In the game of lottery, players pay a small sum of money for a chance to win a large prize. They usually choose numbers or have machines randomly spit them out and then hope to match them in order to win the grand prize. Cash lotteries are often run by state governments in order to raise revenue for a variety of purposes.

Shirley Jackson’s story The Lottery takes place in a remote American village, where traditions and customs dominate the community. This setting provides a fertile ground for exploring themes like sexism and the power of tradition. It also demonstrates that people can fall prey to violence and injustice if they follow the crowd blindly.

The idea of choosing fates by casting lots has a long history, with many examples in the Bible and ancient Greek literature. But modern lotteries, which involve a small percentage of the population buying tickets for an unpredictable prize, are a fairly recent development. They began in the immediate post-World War II period, when states were expanding their social safety nets and hoped to find additional revenue sources without increasing taxes on the middle and working classes.

Lottery advertising typically promotes the jackpot prize as a lump-sum payment, rather than paying it out in annual installments, which can be eroded by inflation and income tax. But critics point out that, as a business enterprise designed to maximize revenues, the lottery is not attuned to public needs or concerns.