Lottery origins: How did today’s lotto games come about? – November 17th 2011

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Some people may think that the lottery is a relatively modern pastime, but in reality, the concept of such games has been going on for not just hundreds of years but millennia.

Tracing back such activities through history, there have been records of lottos taking place in ancient civilisations, long before countries where lotteries are very popular now – such as the US and UK – were even using the alphabet.

Some of the earliest accounts of people playing lottery games can be found in Hang Dynasty records in China circa 205 to 187 BC.

It is believed a pastime called Keno originated at this time, with draws generating funding to finance government projects such as the Great Wall of China.

A century later, during the reign of Roman leader Augustus Caesar, a public lottery was held to raise money to finance the restoration of Rome.

Lotto games as we know them today began to crop up in the Middle Ages, with a draw in Florence being held with a cash prize in 1530 – it is thought this was the first such lottery in history where players could win a payout if they picked the right numbers.

Even today, lotteries are still evolving, with the Italian SuperEnalotto emerging from the famous Enalotto game, while new draws continue to crop up across the world.

Interested in joining this time-honoured pastime? Choose from theLotter‘s 38 official global lotteries and try your luck!

This History of Lottery

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People often ask where the concept of Lottery / Lotto came from, so here goes a brief
history 101 of lottery. The origins of lotteries go back and wide. In the bible “Casting
lots” is mentioned. The first real lottery to give winners prizes bgan in Florence, Italy, in
the early 16th century. It was called “Lotto de Firenze” which is why in many parts of
the world the Lottery is still referred to as the ‘Lotto’

During Colonial times, lotteries becam popular in America. Most took palce to support
charities or local fund raising purposes such as churches, schools and community
centers.

In the 19th century due to a range of draconian laws and prohibitions on gambling arroud
the world, lottery popularity fell by the wayside. Things returned in late in the 20th
century. New Hampshire held its first state lottery in 1964. Followed by other states in
coming years. Popularity grew with the prize levels till today where over 100 million
people play the lottery every week.