The lottery, whether state-run or privately promoted, is a classic example of a game in which people pay to have the chance to win money by a random procedure. Unlike the more mundane commercial promotions in which property is given away, or even political elections, lotteries are considered gambling by definition under the strictest interpretation. The reason is that to participate, a consideration (money, work, etc.) must be exchanged for the right to have a chance at winning.

The first recorded lotteries were in the Low Countries in the 15th century and raised funds to build walls and town fortifications. They were also used to distribute property and slaves among the townspeople, a practice traced back to biblical times. During Saturnalian feasts in ancient Rome, hosts would use the apophoreta, a drawing of wood with symbols on it to determine who was to receive gifts, such as slaves and even property.

Lotteries were widely used in the American colonies, with Benjamin Franklin sponsoring a lottery to raise money for cannons to defend Philadelphia against the British during the Revolution. They are still widely used to give out housing units, and they have become a staple of public policy in states with high unemployment and foreclosure rates.

Despite the popularity of lotteries, there are serious concerns about how they’re being run. The main concern is that lotteries are promoting the idea that a person can win instant riches, and that’s not true. And there’s another issue: Lotteries make state governments dependent on them in an antitax era, and this is a dangerous situation for everyone involved.