Lottery
A competition based on chance, in which numbered tickets are sold and prizes are given to the holders of numbers drawn at random; sometimes used as a means of raising money for the state or charity. Generally, the odds of winning a lottery prize are very low, even when the jackpot is large.
In an era of rising inequality and limited social mobility, it’s no wonder that people feel compelled to gamble on that one-in-a-million chance that they might somehow become rich. But there’s a darker underbelly to this irrational behavior.
The word “lottery” comes from the Middle Dutch word lotinge, meaning “action of casting lots,” probably a calque on the Middle French term loterie. Lotteries may be organized by governments or private entities and are usually characterized by the sale of tickets for the chance to win a prize, often a cash sum. Typically, the greater the number of tickets sold, the higher the jackpot. People may choose their own numbers or use the quick pick option, which selects a set of random numbers for them.
When it comes to sports, the NHL’s annual draft lottery has become a spectacle, as fans eagerly await the chance to see which team will get top overall pick Boston University center Macklin Celebrini. But the actual odds of winning are a lot lower than many people realize. In fact, there’s a much higher probability of being struck by lightning or becoming a billionaire than winning the lottery.