a game or scheme in which numbers are drawn in order to win prizes. It may also refer to:

Lottery is a short story written by Shirley Jackson in 1948 that focuses on a village’s tradition of selecting a person for stoning to death every year. It is a powerful piece of fiction that criticizes the blind following of outdated traditions and rituals in our society. It is a story that shows how the human mind can deceive itself and do horrible things that are not necessarily in its own best interests.

The characterization in the story is excellent and is done through the actions of the characters themselves. For example, Mrs. Delacroix’s action of picking a large rock expresses her determination and quick temper. The setting is also used to establish character traits. For example, it is implied that the village’s apathy towards the lottery shows the villagers’ disregard for life itself.

State lotteries often develop extensive specific constituencies that include convenience store operators (lottery sales are usually high at these locations); suppliers (heavy contributions by these companies to state political campaigns are regularly reported); teachers (in states in which lottery revenues are earmarked for education) and, of course, the general public. It is interesting to note that these popular lotteries are very successful in winning and retaining broad public approval, regardless of a state’s objective fiscal condition.