The Best Places to Buy Lottery Tickets Online
The first recorded lotteries that involved money prizes took place in the Low Countries around the 15th century. Governments held these public lotteries to raise funds for the poor and for public projects. They also served as an alternative to paying taxes. The oldest continually running lottery is the Staatsloterij, established in 1726. The word “lottery” derives from the Dutch noun “lot,” meaning “fate.”
Lottery games spread through Europe, and in the United States, they were introduced by Benjamin Franklin to fund the war effort. Since then, lottery games have been a staple of state governments as a revenue source. Today, there are even games that allow players to become instant billionaires. But before you start playing lottery games, you should understand their costs and benefits.
Lottery games date back to the ancient world. Some ancient Chinese records refer to lottery games that financed major government projects. Some Chinese lotteries are even as old as 205 BC. These games were intended to amuse guests and raise funds for the city. There are also ancient records of lottery games in ancient Rome. The Emperor Augustus even held a lottery during his Saturnalian revels to help repair the City of Rome.
Official lottery websites are the safest place to buy lottery tickets online. They are state-authorized and secure. The official lottery websites make purchasing tickets and collecting prizes easy. This means you aren’t risking your privacy by buying tickets from lottery agents and betting sites. These websites also organize and list state lottery draws.