The official lottery is a gambling game in which numbers are drawn for a chance to win prizes. Lotteries are usually operated by state governments or by private companies, and they are typically run with public funds. In the United States, there is a federally mandated national lottery and several state-run lotteries, including New York’s. Other countries with lotteries include Austria, Bulgaria, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Poland, Slovakia, the Netherlands and the Isle of Man.
Despite their popularity, the odds of winning are very low. Most people who play the lottery do not make much money. As a result, lottery revenue is regressive, taking a larger share of income from lower-income families than higher-income ones. This regressive effect is exacerbated by the fact that states market lottery games to poor communities, leading them to believe they are a quick way to build wealth.
In the immediate post-World War II period, when many states were seeking ways to expand their array of services without enraging an anti-tax public, lotteries began to catch on, particularly in Northeastern and Rust Belt states. But in the late twentieth century, as voters rebuffed all tax hikes, advocates of legalization began to narrow their pitch, arguing that a lottery would cover a single line item, often education, but sometimes elder care, or public parks, or aid for veterans.
The information on this website is provided as a service to the public and is subject to the disclaimers and terms of use contained within the CT Lottery’s enabling statutes, official rules and regulations and procedures. In the event of any conflict between this information and that found in the statutory materials, official rules and regulations and procedures, the latter shall govern.