The history of the lottery in the US is relatively short compared to that of other countries. But for many decades, prohibition stifled the activity. Despite this, many towns and cities in the country began to conduct public lotteries to raise money for the poor and other public projects. One of the oldest continuously running lotteries is the Staatsloterij in the Netherlands, founded in 1726. The word lottery is derived from the Dutch noun ‘lot’, meaning fate.
The US lottery’s history dates back to the early 1700s. Newspaper advertisements from colonial times indicate that there were hundreds of lotteries in operation. The first official state lottery was established in New Hampshire in 1964, and Puerto Rico followed suit in 1934. Today, nearly half of the states in the country operate their own lotteries. In the United States, there are 45 state lotteries, as well as the District of Columbia. In 2021, the Virgin Islands will launch its own lottery.
The New Hampshire online lottery launches, but only offers the MegaMillions and Power Ball. No local draw tickets are sold online. Pennsylvania follows a similar path. Legislators passed a bill to allow online lottery play in 2017. Scientific Games is the sole supplier of the Pennsylvania Lottery. The iLottery in Pennsylvania has its own site separate from the main lottery website, with over 100 games to choose from. Other states use different suppliers.
Despite its rapid growth, there are still a few states that prohibit online lotteries. Currently, seven states operate lottery games online. Federal legislation will clarify the rules for this new activity. In the meantime, states will continue to operate their traditional lotteries. If you’re thinking of entering a lottery game online, be aware that laws are changing rapidly and may not have been in place yet. Regardless of the legality of lottery play, it’s worth researching the process.
The California State Lottery was established in 1984. The state’s lottery games include Powerball and Mega Millions, and it’s also a charter member of the Multi-State Lottery Association. The lottery’s proceeds benefit public schools and colleges. In Ohio, the lottery offers eight draw games as well as several instant games. Proceeds from the lottery are invested in state education programs and roads. This makes playing the lottery a great investment for your community.