The idea of using a drawing to distribute property dates back to ancient times. Moses is instructed in the Old Testament to conduct a census of Israel and then divide land amongst the people by lottery (Numbers 26:55-55) and Roman emperors regularly used lotteries to give away slaves and property during Saturnalian feasts (Kosenko pp).
The modern state lotteries were introduced in the 15th century when towns held public lotteries to raise money for town fortifications and help the poor. The first lottery games were simple, allowing participants to purchase tickets and then wait for a drawing at some future date. Since then, many innovations have been introduced to attract new players and keep existing ones from becoming bored with the same game.
In order to maintain their popularity and revenue streams, state lotteries must constantly introduce new games. This can create problems because they often lack a comprehensive public policy. Instead, most states’ lottery policies are established piecemeal by state government officials who do not have a holistic overview of the industry. The result is that the general welfare of citizens and community is taken into account intermittently, if at all, and state governments end up dependent on lottery revenues.
A big problem with the lottery is that it carries the message that everyone must play because the chance of winning a large sum is so small that it can be seen as a “civic duty.” This reeks of a class distinction; people from lower incomes simply do not have the same access to wealth and opportunity, and so they are less likely to be drawn into the temptations of gambling.