The Truth About the Lottery

A game in which numbered tickets are sold and the winners receive large cash prizes, often determined by chance. Lottery may also refer to:

One of the most common reasons people play the lottery is because they believe it’s a safe, low-risk way to invest their money. The truth is that purchasing a lottery ticket can cost you much more in foregone savings than you will ever win, even if you’re lucky enough to be the winner.

The word lottery comes from the Dutch noun lot, which means “fate.” The first recorded public lotteries were held in the Low Countries in the 16th century to raise funds for poor relief and town fortifications. In the 17th century, the state-owned Staatsloterij ran the most popular national lotteries. In America, the Continental Congress approved a lottery in 1776 to raise money for the American Revolution. After that, colonists continued to hold public lotteries to finance a variety of public projects. Among other things, they helped to build schools, libraries, bridges, roads, canals, and churches. In addition, they financed the founding of several American colleges, including Harvard, Dartmouth, Yale, King’s College (now Columbia), and the University of Pennsylvania.

While many people play the lottery to try to improve their lives, the Bible warns against covetousness: “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house, his wife, his manservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that is his.” The best way to make sure you have enough for your family and future is to save wisely.