Legal Definitions - number lottery

A number lottery is a form of gambling where participants select or are assigned a series of numbers, and prizes are awarded based on a random drawing of corresponding numbers. The outcome is determined purely by chance, and participants typically purchase tickets or make wagers in anticipation of their chosen numbers matching the randomly drawn set.

• Example 1: State-Run Lottery Game

  A person purchases a ticket for a popular state lottery game, choosing six specific numbers from a larger pool. Later that week, a machine randomly draws six numbers. If the numbers on the person's ticket match the drawn numbers, they win a monetary prize.

  This illustrates a number lottery because the participant selected numbers, the outcome was determined by a random drawing, and a prize was awarded based on the matching numbers.

• Example 2: Charity Raffle

  A local school hosts a fundraising event where attendees can buy raffle tickets. Each ticket has a unique number printed on it. At the end of the event, a ticket is randomly pulled from a large container, and the person holding the ticket with the matching number wins a donated gift certificate.

  This is a number lottery because participants received assigned numbers (on their tickets), a random drawing determined the winner, and a prize was awarded based on the matching number.

• Example 3: Sports Pool with Random Numbers

  A group of friends organizes a pool for a major sporting event. Instead of picking teams, each friend pays an entry fee and is assigned a random two-digit number. After the game, the last two digits of the final combined score are used to determine the winning number. The friend whose assigned number matches these digits wins the collected pot.

  This scenario represents a number lottery as individuals were assigned numbers, a random outcome (the final score digits) determined the winning number, and a prize (the pot) was awarded to the person whose assigned number matched.