The lottery is a game in which tokens are distributed or sold and the winner is selected by random drawing. The winners may receive prizes such as goods, services, or even a home or apartment. In the case of a financial lottery, players pay a small sum for the chance to win a prize or jackpot. In many cases, the proceeds from these games are used for public benefit.

While people of all income levels can play, the wealthy do so more often and spend far more than their poorer counterparts. In fact, the average person making more than fifty thousand dollars a year spends one per cent of their annual income on lotteries, while those who make less than thirty-five thousand spend thirteen per cent.

Whether the lottery is a way to win the money for a house or a place in a prestigious university, it creates loads of eagerness and dreams of tossing off the burden of working “for the man.” But what is it really? And how do we know if it’s worth our while to participate?