from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Lottery \Lot"ter*y\, n.; pl. {Lotteries}. [Lot + -ery, as in
brewery, bindery.]
1. A scheme for the distribution of prizes by lot or chance;
esp., a gaming scheme in which one or more tickets bearing
particular numbers draw prizes, and the rest of the
tickets are blanks. Fig.: An affair of chance.
[1913 Webster]
Note: The laws of the United States and of most of the States
make private lotteries illegal, except in certain
circumstances for charitable institutions; however,
many of the states now conduct lotteries tehmselves as
a revenue source.
[1913 Webster +PJC]
2. Allotment; thing allotted. [Obs.] --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
from
Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856)
LOTTERY. A scheme for the distribution of prizes by chance.
2. In most, if not all of the United States, lotteries not specially
authorized by the legislatures of the respective states are prohibited, and
the persons concerned in establishing them are subjected to a heavy penalty.
This is the case in Alabama, Connecticut Delaware, Georgia, Kentucky,
Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode
Island, Tennessee, Vermont and Virginia. In Louisiana, a license is granted
to sell tickets in a lottery not authorized by the legislature of that
state, on the payment of $5000, and the license extends only to one lottery.
In many of the states, the lotteries authorized by other states, are
absolutely prohibited Encycl. Amer. h.t.