Official lottery is a form of gambling in which people pay a small amount of money for the chance to win a large sum of money. In the US, there are state lotteries that can only be played within a particular state’s borders and multi-jurisdictional games like Powerball that span several states and are available to play in all of them. While many of these games have a positive impact on local economies, there is also concern that they have a negative effect on low-income and minority communities.

There are many reasons why a state might choose to have a lottery. There is the simple fact that a lot of people enjoy gambling, and this is an inextricable human impulse that the lottery can tap into. Then there is the state’s need for revenue and the belief that since gambling is inevitable anyway, they might as well offer it up and capture some of that.

Regardless of the reasons behind it, there is no denying that lottery revenue has boosted many local economies and improved public services. In New York, for example, Lottery proceeds have contributed to the construction of roads, canals and ferries. They have also helped develop the manufacturing industries in the state.

The New York Lottery was founded in 1967 with its first and foremost slogan – “Your Chance of a Lifetime to Help Education.” It has upheld that promise ever since, and has raised billions for the state’s schools.