Different types of lottery-based competitions are the source of some of the biggest anticipation and involvement from around the world. Different countries have their own variations of the concept, and it has evolved into the digital world following the technological revolution.
In this article, we explore the history of the beloved game, venturing back to its very early days and looking at its evolution until now.
Lotto today
With 45 lotto states in the US, the participation levels are massive. This is largely due to the easy access to gambling games that the internet provides. Growth in participation has largely coincided with the increase in accessibility due to digital mediums. Today, you can hop on any of your electric devices and find a site that sells US Powerball within a matter of minutes – this is the power of technology. Therefore, digital versions now dominate markets. But what did people do when there weren’t any mobile phones?
First Inspirations
The concept can be traced back to the early Chinse Han Dynasty. In 200BC, keno slips were used as a form of financial funding for the state. This is the earliest instance of tickets being purchased that were awarded a chance of winning a monetary prize, for the excess money to be kept and used by the sellers. During the Renaissance, lotteries emerged in Europe. The profits from ticket sales were used to finance public projects, like civil engineering and educational institutions. The first recorded lottery in Europe was in 1446. In the United States, lotteries were used early on to finance the construction of the renowned Yale and Harvard universities, most notably.
Intervention
By the 19th century, governments began to intervene with lotteries when individuals were using them in fraudulent ways. They were then reintroduced in a regulated manner during the mid-20th century. US governments used them as a great means to raise funding without raising taxes. Since their reintroduction, the popularity of lottery-based games has sprouted rapidly.
Instant lottery tickets – now known as scratch cards – were invented in the 1970s, and offer a variation of the lottery that many people choose to participate in. Rather than waiting for a single selection of a prize winner, individuals could buy a ticket and see how their luck turned out instantly.
Technology
The ability to play and win instantly was catalyzed by the first digital lotto. Digitalized finance was also a major factor in the growth of the lotto as this offered a more convenient means of both purchasing tickets and issuing rewards. As technology continues to develop, the lottery will surely continue to grow and innovate also.
Final Thoughts
The history of the lotto is rich and entwined with state institutions. After being reintroduced with appropriate regulations, the phenomenon has grown immensely into the fabulous concept that we see today. The rewards that certain lucky individuals have received are pretty life-changing, and you can count on every single ticket buyer hoping that today is their lucky day when buying their next ticket.
