Lottery History

Lottery games have been a part of society for centuries. The Bible and ancient manuscripts can allude to lottery history. Records show that lotteries were played as early as 205 to 187 BC. Old literature such as the Iliad by Homer mention lots being drawn as a way to determine which warrior was going to fight in battle. The word lottery have two various origins. It can be attributed to the Dutch word "loterij" which comes from their noun lot meaning "fate". It would have also come from the Italian word "lotto", also meaning "fate".

Lottery history mentions the Dutch as the first people to give away solely money prizes for winning the game. The money collected from these lotteries was used for various country purposes such as upgrading defenses and the creation of roads and buildings. At around 1566, the first recorded official lottery was held by the English. Its prizes included valuable commodities at that time such as silver plates. Seeing the popularity of the game, the royalties instituted the English State Lottery. It was one of the sources of income for the country and has even funded the creation of art houses such as the British Museum in London.

Popular international figures can be seen in lottery history. The greats such as Caesar and King Francis I of France used lotteries to fund their projects. The first American president, George Washington, instituted a lottery to help build a road among the mountains. The noted inventor, Benjamin Franklin, used a lottery to pay for cannons. From then onwards, lotteries have become popular in many countries. There are now national lotteries in various places around the world. Although some countries are against gambling, the lottery continues to provide funds for various projects while giving a sense of excitement to the people who love to play this game of chance.