A lottery is a form of gambling that involves giving people a chance to win a prize. The prize could be anything from money to jewelry. Federal law prohibits the sale of lotteries in interstate commerce and the mailing or transportation of lottery promotions, including tickets themselves. Federal statutes define a lottery as any game where payment is required, there is a chance to win, and there is a prize. These games are often operated by state and local governments, but there are also privately-operated lotteries that offer larger prizes such as cars. In the United States, there are approximately 50 state-licensed lotteries. Each has a different set of rules and regulations.
Jackson’s story takes place in an unnamed rural town during a summer lottery ritual. Children, recently on summer break from school, are the first to gather in a village square. They are joined by adults who chat and exhibit the normal behavior of small-town residents. A few women begin to assemble, as well as the mute Tessie. During the yearly lottery ritual, a black box is brought to the center of the gathering. It is believed to be an old piece of original lottery paraphernalia, though it has been repurposed for the occasion.
The villagers then start to select stones from the pile prepared earlier by the children. They do so in a ritualistic way that suggests they believe that their actions will influence the results. Once all the selections have been made, Mr. Summers announces that the drawing is about to take place. With a sigh of disappointment, the villagers open their slips. Little Dave’s paper is blank, and Nancy and Bill’s are also blank. But Tessie’s paper has a black spot on it. Tessie pleads to be spared, but the villagers are quick to conclude that her black spot is a sign of good fortune and a winner.
One of the major messages that lottery commissions promote is that playing the lottery is fun, and a scratch-off ticket can be a satisfying experience. Another is that lottery players feel a sense of civic duty to support the state by purchasing a ticket, even if they don’t win. But both of these messages obscure the regressivity of the lottery and its role in bolstering a particular societal hierarchy.