The official lottery is a fixture in American culture, with Americans spending upward of $100 billion each year on tickets. And while it’s a popular form of gambling, state lotteries aren’t without their critics. They are regressive, drawing money from lower-income communities and leading them to believe it’s a quick way to build wealth, critics say.

In colonial America, lotteries played a significant role in funding both private and public ventures, including roads, libraries, churches, canals, colleges, bridges, and even the foundation of Princeton and Columbia Universities. They also helped fund the Continental Army at the beginning of the Revolutionary War. Alexander Hamilton believed that lotteries were a legitimate form of taxation because “everybody is willing to hazard trifling sums for the chance of considerable gain.”

Today, there are 48 lotteries in the United States, each run independently and subject to the laws of their jurisdiction. However, two major multistate games, Mega Millions and Powerball, are offered in most of the country’s jurisdictions and serve as de facto national lotteries. Despite their popularity, they don’t always produce the highest jackpots.

In addition to these two big games, many states offer instant scratch-offs that often feature small prizes such as cash or merchandise. Some lotteries also offer keno and video lottery terminals. Most lottery proceeds support state and local education systems. While winning tickets are not required to be publicly announced, winners must provide a social security number or other valid identification to verify their identity. Moreover, if they win a large prize and use a trust to claim the funds, the commission may require proof of authority or the trustee’s name.