The word lottery is believed to come from the Dutch word lot, meaning fate or destiny, and may be a calque on Middle French loterie “action of drawing lots” (the first European state-run lottery was in France in 1569). Lottery has often been criticized for its potential for compulsive gambling and its alleged regressive effect on low-income groups. But those criticisms generally focus on specific features of lottery operations and are thus a natural outgrowth of the continuing evolution of the industry.
In addition, some people simply enjoy gambling and are attracted to the lure of instant wealth. This is a fundamental human impulse, one that lottery advertising capitalizes on with billboards featuring the Mega Millions or Powerball jackpots.