History of the Lottery

The lottery throughout history has always been a means to raise money for governmental local and state agencies. Though experts theorize that the lottery dates back to the Old Testament, little has been written until 200 BC. The Hun Dynasty in China used lotteries to raise money for taxes. Emperor Cheung invented the Chinese Lottery and built the Great Wall of China with the revenue earned. It reached England at the end of the 16th century when Queen Elizabeth 1 held the first recorded British lottery in 1566 for public works. Over 200 American lotteries were recorded between 1744 and the American Revolution. They played a significant part of US history for building roads, libraries, churches, bridges, colleges and other public works. But by 1900 all lotteries were ceased by Congress due to corruption and fraudulent activity. It wasn’t until the 1960’s that the lottery was legal again in an effort to raise money for state governments and taxes.