A lottery (or lotto) is a form of gambling that involves the drawing of numbers at
random for a prize. Some governments outlaw lotteries, while others endorse it to the extent
of organizing a national or state lottery. It is common to find some degree of regulation of
lottery by governments. The most common regulation is prohibition of sale to minors, and
vendors must be licensed to sell lottery tickets.
Although lotteries were common
in the United States and some other countries during the 19th century, by the beginning of
the 20th century, most forms of gambling, including lotteries and sweepstakes, were illegal
in the U.S. and most of Europe as well as many other countries. This remained so until well
after World War II. In the 1960s, casinos and lotteries began to re-appear throughout the
world as a means for governments to raise revenue without raising taxes. (資料來源
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