A lottery ticket is a small piece of paper that allows a person to participate in a lottery game. When someone buys a ticket, they select a set of numbers or receive a random combination. If those numbers match the winning numbers drawn during the lottery drawing, the ticket holder can win a cash prize or other rewards. Lotteries are often organized by government agencies or private companies and can vary in rules and prize amounts. The odds of winning depend on the number of tickets sold and the total number of possible number combinations. Popular lotteries include Powerball and Mega Millions.