Islamic Ruling on Lottery

Dr. Salah Sultan, President of Islamic American University and professor of Islamic Jurisprudence, Cairo University, issues the following Fatwa: "The best way to earn money in Islam is to work hard and employ thought. Islam prohibits a Muslim from earning vast amounts of money without making any effort. Allah Almighty says: "O you who believe! Strong drink and games of chance and idols and divining arrows are only an infamy of Satan's handiwork. Leave it aside in order that you may succeed." (Al-Ma'idah: 90) Islam wants people to give their money for good and charitable causes out of the goodness of their hearts, love of God and humanity, and not through devious and dubious ways and means. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) says, "Allah does not accept except that which is good and pure." (Reported by Al-Bukhari) In Islam, money is not an aim in itself, in the sense that it is a means of earning one's livelihood. It is worth noting in this respect that the moment the prize winner's names are being announced, the limelight floods the winner while leaving hundreds of thousands of losers in hospitals suffering various psychological disturbances. Another question imposes itself: To what extent can lottery and gambling benefit production and the world economy in general? 

Conclusion: 

In the light of the above Fatwa, it becomes clear that lottery is a form of the prohibited games of chance, which are strictly condemned in the following Qur'anic verse: "O ye who believe! Strong drink and games of chance and idols and divining arrows are only an infamy of Satan's handiwork. Leave it aside in order that ye may succeed. Satan seeketh only to cast among you enmity and hatred by means of strong drink and games of chance, and to turn you from remembrance of Allah and from (His) worship.Will ye then have done?" (Al-Ma'idah: 90-91)source-  http://www.islamawareness.net/