Official lottery is a system of state-sponsored gambling where bettors purchase numbered tickets in hopes that their numbers will be drawn for a prize. In many cases, the winnings are used for public goods such as education and infrastructure. However, there are some exceptions where the money is used for private purposes such as religion or sports events.

There are several reasons why states decide to run lotteries. One of the reasons is that they need money. Lotteries are a convenient way for governments to generate funds without having to raise taxes. This was especially true in the immediate post-World War II period. During that time, states could expand their array of social safety nets without imposing excessively onerous tax burdens on the middle and working classes.

Another reason that states enact lotteries is that they believe gambling is inevitable and that the government might as well capture some of it. This is a flawed belief that ignores the fact that state-sponsored lotteries are actually encouraging more people to gamble. They are a major contributor to the rising prevalence of problem gambling among American adults.

In the case of New York, lotteries were a main source of revenue for years before the state enacted its constitutional amendment in 1967. In the early days, lottery proceeds were used to support a variety of civic projects including building and repairing roads, canals, and ferries. The revenue also helped establish New York’s manufacturing industry. Today, most of the lottery proceeds are earmarked for educational use.