Lottery:
A scheme for the distribution of prizes by lot or chance. Especially a gaming scheme in which one or more tickets bearing particular numbers draw the prizes and the other tickets are blanks. Also used figuratively: An affair of chance or fate. (Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)
The lottery is a popular form of gambling that encourages participants to pay a small sum in order to have a random chance at winning a large jackpot. While it is often criticized as an addictive form of gambling, the money raised by financial lotteries can be used to fund public-sector projects.
In the United States, state-sponsored lotteries are common, and the winners receive a prize based on their chosen numbers. Often the prize amount is much larger than the cost of the ticket. The odds of winning the grand prize are extremely low, but the excitement of the game makes it a popular pastime.
Historically, lotteries have been a painless way for governments to raise funds. They have been used to finance a wide variety of private and public projects, including canals, roads, churches, schools, colleges and universities. Lotteries in colonial America were particularly popular and played an important role in financing both local and national public usages.
Lottery pools are groups of people who pool their money to buy lottery tickets and share the proceeds if any of them win. In addition to increasing the chance of winning, these pools can also reduce the cost of buying tickets and allow people to participate even if they cannot afford a full-price ticket.