Lottery is a gambling game in which numbered tickets are sold and prizes are awarded to the holders of numbers drawn at random. Some states have state-run lottery systems, while others contract with private companies to run their lottery operations. In addition, some countries have national or international lotteries. People play the lottery hoping to win money, and many people believe they can change their lives by winning the jackpot. However, God forbids covetousness, which is the root of much lottery playing (see Ecclesiastes 5:10). The Bible also warns against false hope, which can cause people to think that lottery winnings will solve all of their problems.

Historically, lottery proceeds have provided states with relatively painless revenue sources that can be used for a variety of public purposes. But critics charge that lottery promotions are often misleading, inflating the odds of winning and the value of the prize (which is typically paid in annual installments over 20 years, with inflation dramatically eroding its current value). In addition, they say that state officials become accustomed to the regular flow of lotto revenues and are unable to resist pressures from convenience store operators, lottery suppliers, teachers (in those states in which the lottery is earmarked for education), and other interested groups.

Lottery winners are disproportionately from middle-income neighborhoods. But the overall economic impact of lottery games is questionable. Research indicates that they do not stimulate growth, but rather increase the demand for speculative investments.