A lottery is a form of gambling in which numbers are drawn at random for a prize. Some governments outlaw it, while others endorse it and organize a national or state lottery. While winning the lottery may seem like an easy way to get rich, there are several things you should know before attempting to buy tickets.

While making decisions and determining fates through the casting of lots has a long record in human history—including several instances in the Bible—the modern public lottery is relatively recent, with the first recorded lotteries appearing in the 15th century. Towns in Burgundy and Flanders used them to raise money for town fortifications, help the poor, and other purposes.

The popularity of state-sponsored lotteries has largely been driven by states’ need for additional revenue, particularly in the immediate postwar period when they were able to expand their social safety nets without imposing onerous taxes on working people. Lotteries have been popular even when state governments’ fiscal health has been solid, although they generally garner greater support when the proceeds are linked to a specific public good, such as education.

In fact, the message that lottery promoters are trying to convey is that buying a ticket helps a cause—and not just any cause, but a “good” cause, one in which you can take pride. It’s an attractive message that, when framed correctly, can convince even the most ardent critic of state-sponsored lotteries to reconsider his or her position.