Whether you’re an avid lottery player or just want to try your luck on a single ticket, you’ll be glad to know that you’re not alone in your quest to win the lottery. In the past, players had limited options when it came to the different games available. These games were only offered in specific locations, and the prizes they could win were limited. However, today, you can play the lottery almost anywhere. In fact, it’s considered “national” by many.
In addition to traditional lottery games, some state governments have developed e-games that mimic the basic game of playing the lottery. Like a traditional lottery card, e-games give players the opportunity to play their favorite game on the Internet. CyberSlingo and Tetris, developed by the New Jersey lottery commission, are examples of e-games that offer the same experience. Although the online lottery market is still small, it has the potential to grow in the future.
The first recorded lotteries began in the Chinese Han Dynasty, around 205 BC. The money raised from these games helped finance major government projects such as the Great Wall of China. The first recorded lottery was conducted during the Roman Empire, and the prizes were typically fancy dinnerware. However, in other cultures, the lottery is much older. In the ancient Roman Empire, wealthy noblemen distributed tickets during Saturnalian revels. The Roman Emperor Augustus even organized a lottery in the city of Rome to raise money for repairs. The prize money was 1737 florins, which would be about $170,000 in 2014 dollars.