The lottery is a form of gambling where numbers are drawn to win prizes. It is run by governments in many countries. The people who run it usually have strict rules to make sure that no one is rigging the results. For example, if the number 7 comes up more often than the others, that does not mean that it is luckier, but just that the numbers are randomly picked. If you want to try your hand at the lottery, there are several different types of games to choose from. These include instant-win scratch-off tickets, daily games where you pick three or four numbers and the big jackpot games. Another option is to buy a pull-tab ticket. These have numbers on the back that are hidden behind a perforated paper tab which you need to break open in order to see them.
In this short story, we see a family gathering for the lottery drawing. The husband, Bill, and daughter Tessie draw their slips, but Tessie’s is marked. When the winner is announced, the townspeople gather around and begin throwing stones at her. This is an example of characterization, where the writer shows who the character is by how that person behaves and what they say.
Lotteries have been around for centuries. The first records of them date back to the Low Countries in the 15th century, when towns used them to raise money for town fortifications and poor relief. Since then, they have become common in the United States and many other countries. Today, they are often seen as a way to promote economic growth and help those in need. However, some critics argue that they are a form of regressive taxation on the poor.