Is the paid annual online subscription to the US Green Card lottery considered an immigration application or a form of gambling?

Summary: Maysir (gambling) is any activity that results in gain or loss for one party without a corresponding exchange, and it is a grave sin. Applying for the Green Card online, by paying a fee and filling out a form, then having a lottery to select those who qualify, is not maysir. The fee is a charge for the transaction, and the lottery is permissible when eligible individuals are equal.