Article — Gury-Ballerini, Compendium of Moral Theology (8th ed., 1884)
Article III. On Lot-Drawing, or Lottery
Lottery is a contract by which several persons deposit something in common, so that they may have a right of drawing by lot the thing set forth in the midst. Some have the whole, some a part, some finally nothing.
- Questions. - Q. 1. Whether lottery is a lawful contract?
Resp. Affirmatively, provided the required conditions are present. The reason is that lottery can be regarded as the purchase of an uncertain thing, or as a contract by which with money is bought the right of drawing by lot and acquiring that which shall have fallen by lot. Moreover, it is lawful to buy an uncertain thing, just as to make an agreement for the risk of some thing.
Q. 2. What are the conditions required that lottery be a contract lawful in itself?
Resp. They are 1. that there be no fraud in drawing the tickets, nor in paying the prize which has fallen; 2. that the owner of the lottery not exceed in profit, nor morally gain more than if he expended his money or distributed his goods by another lawful contract. Nevertheless the profit can be greater if the lottery has been instituted for a good work or public utility. - Thus commonly.