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A lottery is a form of gambling that involves drawing lots to determine ownership or other rights. It is an ancient practice recorded in documents including the Bible, and it became common in Europe in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. During this time, lottery games began to be used by state governments to raise money for towns, wars, colleges, and public-works projects.

Many people play the lottery with the intention of becoming rich. While the odds of winning are slim—there is a higher likelihood of being struck by lightning or becoming a billionaire than hitting the lottery—these games can become addictive and financially destructive. In addition to soaring ticket prices, the hope of striking it big can lead to other risky behaviors such as gambling or investing in unproven schemes.

While you can’t guarantee that you will win the lottery, there are some things you can do to increase your chances of success. One of the most important is to choose your numbers wisely. Pick a range of low and high numbers and avoid numbers that end in the same group or in the same sequence. Additionally, consider playing a less popular lottery game. This will decrease the competition and improve your odds of winning.

Khristopher J. Brooks is a reporter at CBS MoneyWatch and has previously worked for the Omaha World-Herald, Newsday and the Florida Times-Union. His reporting focuses on the U.S. housing market, the business of sports and bankruptcy.