The lottery is a gambling game that gives people the chance to win money. Some governments outlaw lotteries while others endorse them to some extent. In the United States, state-run lotteries are popular and raise substantial funds for various public uses. The principal argument used to promote state lotteries has been that they are a source of painless revenue: players voluntarily spend their money for the benefit of the public good, while politicians look at lotteries as a way to raise taxes without causing voter backlash.

Once a lottery is established, the debate shifts from its general desirability to features of its operations, such as its effect on compulsive gamblers and its alleged regressivity against low-income groups. This shift is the driving force behind the continuing evolution of state lotteries, as well as the primary focus of critics.

Generally, states legislate a monopoly for themselves, establish a public corporation to run the lottery and begin operations with a modest number of relatively simple games. Over time, they progressively expand the number and value of prizes, as well as add new games. Prizes are typically the amount remaining after all expenses, including profits for the lottery promoter and other revenues, have been deducted.

As with most gambling, the lottery is a form of social control that is intended to prevent the wealthy from abusing their wealth. Jackson argues that the lottery is also a form of family control because it forces families to turn against each other in order to protect their own interests. This is an important theme in Jackson’s story, because it shows how humans are deceitful by nature and that they are willing to do anything for money.