The History of the Lotto
Many people view lotteries in a negative light, but that is not, and was not, their intention. The games have never been simply a form of gambling. As history shows, lotto games were originated to help raise funds for particular causes. In ancient China, for example, the first lotteries were held to raise funds for the construction of the Great Wall of China. A Keno game was used during the Han Dynasty as a method of raising the money for the wall.
Other ancient societies followed the example, knowingly or unknowingly, of the Chinese. The Romans operated the first lotto in Europe. Under Emperor Augustus Caesar, tickets were sold and people could win all sorts of valuable prizes. In return, the city of Rome received funds that allowed it to be repaired.
The first public lotto was held in the Netherlands in the 15th century. Throughout the 15th century, the use of lotteries expanded and the proceeds were used to help poor people in towns all over Holland, France, and Belgium. In Holland, lotteries were viewed as a tax that people were much more willing to pay.
In the 1800s in England, lotteries were instituted and operated by the government as a means of raising money for government projects. Over time, lotto games have come and gone and have even been banned in countries like Canada and the United States at times. Nowadays, many lotteries still follow the games’ original purpose, which was to raise money for good causes.