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History Of Lotteries in Europe

Europeans have played lottery games almost since the beginning of time. The history of lotteries in the oldern world began in ancient times and continues to this day.

Remember the ancient Greek myths? Especially the one in which Zeus, Poseidon and Hades cast lots over who will be the ruler of which kingdom? Apparently, this is one of the first mentions of a lottery. The Greek "lot" is the lottery!

In ancient Rome, raffles were already taking place on many ways. Under Julia Caesar for example, there was a lottery, the profit from which was directed to repair the houses, roads and bridges of Rome. Also on holy days, charity events were held in favor of the poor.

Any further references to lotteries in old Europe are hard to find although they probably did exist in those times not all of them were written about or mentioned in any writing from the time. There are however reports that in the Middle Ages lotteries existed secretly.

Lotteries then went silent for a while and again reappear only in 1466, on the 25th anniversary of the death of artist Jan van Eyck, when his widow held a raffle among the inhabitants of Bruges (a city in Belgium). 

Everyone could buy tickets and compete for a cash prize. The proceeds from the sale of tickets were directed to help the urban poor. It is generally accepted that this is the first truly known European lottery.

Quite quickly in Belgium, the lottery business began to develop: chapels, almshouses, water canals and port facilities were built with funds from the raffles.

The very word "lottery" arose around 1515 in the Genoa Republic (which was eventually dissolved in 1815). At that time, to be elected to the Grand Council of Genoa, it was necessary to pass elections. 

Of the 90 applicants before the finals came five. At a certain point, it was decided to select leaders by the method of drawing according to the formula "5 out of 90", giving the right to vote to fate and luck. Then the word "lotto" came into use.

In 1530, Florence organized one of the first lotteries with a a newly coined word in the title - "De Lotto de Firenze". It was one of the first lotteries, in which cash prizes stood at stake similar to lottery games today. 

Since 1863 Italy has had an official national lottery on a weekly basis. From which the popular italian SuperEnalotto game eventually evolved.