lottery A game of chance. Generally unlawful: Lotteries and Amusements. Exceptions: small lotteries incidental to exempt entertainments (e.g., bazaars, sales of work, dances); private lotteries (e.g., those in which the sale of tickets is restricted to members of one society); societies lotteries (i.e., promoted on behalf of a society concerned with athletics, charitable purposes, etc); local lotteries (i.e., promoted by a local authority and registered with the Gaming Board). A lottery ticket includes any document evidencing the claim of a person to participate in the chances of the lottery .