Lottery is a government-sanctioned game of chance in which people buy tickets to win a prize based on a random drawing of numbers. It’s the most popular form of gambling in America. And it’s one that states promote as a way to raise revenue without raising taxes. But how much money does it actually bring in, and are the benefits worth the price?

It turns out that most people who play the lottery are losers. And the big winners are a small fraction of the total number of players. So why do we keep playing? It’s a complicated question, but experts say there are several reasons. Some of them are practical: Lottery games provide a sense of hope against the odds. For people who struggle financially, buying a ticket may seem like a small sacrifice that will help them get out of debt or afford health care.

Some of the big winners are also state employees or members of the military, who can use their winnings to pay for things that might otherwise be unaffordable. And that’s part of the reason why many people continue to play: They think of it as a civic duty or an alternative to paying taxes.

But there’s also the fact that states must pay out a significant portion of ticket sales in prize money, which reduces the percentage available to general fund revenues. And that’s a problem because, as the nation struggles to make ends meet, state governments need every dollar they can get.