When you buy a lottery ticket, it’s not only a chance to win big, but you’re also helping out your state government. That’s how lottery is sold, and it’s a message that works well when state governments are looking for ways to raise revenue. But just how meaningful that revenue is, and whether it’s worth the trade-off to people losing money, is a matter of debate.

Lottery is a popular source of state revenues, but it’s not without its critics. Some argue that it promotes gambling addictions and disproportionately hurts low-income communities. Others point to the high costs of running a lottery and question whether it’s an effective way to generate tax revenues.

The idea of drawing lots to determine fate has a long history, starting with the Chinese keno slips from the Han dynasty between 205 and 187 BC. It became widespread in Europe in the 17th century, with lotteries used to fund a wide variety of public projects, from churches and libraries to canals, roads and bridges. Benjamin Franklin, for example, ran a lottery to help fund his militia, and George Washington helped organize a lottery to finance a road across Virginia’s mountains.

In the United States, the first modern state-run lottery was established in New Hampshire in 1806. Other states soon followed suit, hoping to cut into the illegal games offered by organized crime groups. Lotteries have become a popular way to raise funds for education, veterans’ health and other state services without raising taxes.

While lottery critics may point to the many problems with lotteries, they often overlook one key fact: state-run lotteries are incredibly profitable. According to a recent study by researchers at the University of Maryland, lottery proceeds account for more than half of the profits of state governments, despite being a small portion of total state spending.

Lottery marketing campaigns expertly capitalize on fear of missing out — known as FOMO. “By presenting the purchase of a lottery ticket as a minimal investment with the potential to dramatically improve life, these campaigns reduce perceived risk and magnify reward,” says consumer psychologist Adam Ortman.

If you want to increase your chances of winning, stick with smaller games that have fewer numbers. For example, a state pick-3 game is a better choice than Powerball or Mega Millions, because you’ll have a much higher chance of matching three numbers than five. You can also increase your odds by avoiding numbers that end in the same digit or ones that appear in the same cluster. In addition, be sure to use a random selection tool to generate your numbers.