A game in which tickets are sold with numbers on them, and prizes (usually money) are awarded to those whose numbers are drawn by lot. Lotteries are often used by governments to raise funds for public purposes. People also sometimes play lotteries for fun or for recreational purposes. The term “lottery” can also refer to a process of selection by chance, such as choosing jury members or deciding who will be assigned a court case.

The popularity of lottery games in the 1980s was fueled by widening economic inequality, a growing materialism that asserted anyone could become rich with enough effort or luck, and by a popular anti-tax movement that led lawmakers to seek alternative means of raising revenue. Lottery games provided such an alternative and were able to tap into a desire for wealth that is hard to quell.

Despite the low odds of winning, lotteries are still big business and contribute billions to state budgets each year. People buy lottery tickets for a variety of reasons, from purely recreational to purely financial. Some even believe that playing the lottery is part of their civic duty. But just how meaningful that money is in broader state budgets, and whether the costs are worth the trade-offs that come with it, remains open to question.

A person can try to increase their chances of winning by buying multiple tickets or selecting certain numbers over and over. Some people even have a “strategy” for picking their numbers, such as selecting birthdays or other lucky combinations. The reality, however, is that every single lottery drawing is independent of any previous or future drawings and that there is no way to predict the results in advance.

Many, but not all, lotteries post application statistics after the lottery is closed. This information can include the number of applications submitted, demand information, and a breakdown of applicants who were selected and those who were not.

Lottery results are announced by email to all applicants who were not selected for a wait list spot. Those who were not selected can re-apply for the next lottery.

Those who were selected will be placed on HACA’s wait list for Section 8 housing or other public assistance programs. The lottery was held on June 20, 2019. Applicants who were not selected will be notified of the results by email.

If you are a current HACA waiting list applicant, please know that lottery selection has no impact on your wait time or preference point status. All applications in the lottery pool have equal odds of being selected for the program in which they applied. If you are not selected in this lottery, it is important to continue to submit your application for housing assistance.

The lottery was held on Tuesday, June 20, 2019. All eligible wait list applicants are encouraged to participate in the lottery. Please review our lottery rules and eligibility requirements before submitting your application for consideration. You may also contact the lottery office for further questions.