History of Lottery in Timeline

A lottery is a gambling system where numbers are randomly drawn for a prize. Governments vary in their approach, with some banning lotteries outright while others operate national or state lotteries, typically regulating aspects like sales to minors. Lotteries were prevalent in the 19th century but largely outlawed by the early 20th century in many countries. Post-World War II, in the 1960s, they began to resurface as a revenue-generating tool for governments, offering an alternative to raising taxes.

1916: Start of 'Golden Casket Art Union'

In 1916, the Australian government started their own lottery, named the 'Golden Casket Art Union', with the intention of raising money for charities and projects. Its first draw raised funds for veterans of World War One.

1917: British Government lottery in Siam

In 1917, a lottery was organized by the British government with Thai consent to help finance Britain's war effort.

1933: Reintroduction of national lottery

In 1933, a national lottery was reintroduced.

1933: Regularization of lotteries in Thailand

In 1933, lotteries became regularized under the finance department in Thailand.

1934: First modern government-run US lottery

In 1934, the first modern government-run US lottery was established in Puerto Rico.

1964: Lottery in New Hampshire

In 1964, a lottery was established in New Hampshire.

1967: Kerala State Government lottery department start

In 1967, the Kerala State Government started their lottery department following the country wide ban on private lotteries.

1969: Incorporation of 4-Digits-based games

In 1969, the Malaysian Government founded and incorporated a company focused on the commercialisation of 4-Digits–based games.

1969: Lottery industry start in Malaysia

In early 1969, the lottery industry started operating in Malaysia by Berjaya Group.

December 1970: Veikkaus began selling lottery tickets

In December 1970, Veikkaus began selling lottery tickets in Finland.

January 3, 1971: First televised lottery draw in Finland

On January 3, 1971, the first lottery draw was televised in Finland.

January 1971: First televised lottery draw in Finland

In January 1971, the first lottery draw was televised in Finland.

1980: Change in number selection in Finland

In Finland, until the autumn of 1980, six numbers between 1 and 40 were chosen in the lottery. Then for a few years seven numbers between 1 and 37 were chosen.

1980: Pennsylvania Lottery scandal

The 1980 Pennsylvania Lottery scandal involved weighting balls in The Daily Number.

August 1985: Privatisation of the company to Vincent Tan

On August 1, 1985, the government sold the company to businessman Vincent Tan who merged it into his Berjaya Group.

1994: Establishment of the National Lottery in the UK

In 1994, the National Lottery was established in the United Kingdom, sanctioned by the Gambling Commission.

2003: "Tic-Tac-Toe" recalled by the OLG

In 2003, Mohan Srivastava found non-random patterns in "Tic-Tac-Toe" tickets, leading to the game being recalled by the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG).

2005: Restrictions under the Gambling Act

In accordance with restrictions under the Gambling Act 2005, the maximum amount which can be won by a single ticket is £500,000, or 10% of the total draw proceeds.

2007: Sale of George Washington's lottery ticket

In 2007, a lottery ticket bearing George Washington's signature sold for about $15,000.

January 3, 2011: 40th anniversary of the lottery in Finland

On January 3, 2011, the lottery in Finland turned 40 years old and had been drawn 2,126 times.

2011: Profit category changes in Finland

In Finland, the profit categories were changed from the 2011 round 41. At that time, the main victory was with 7 correct results and the smallest victory with three actual and one additional number, the number of which was reduced from three to two.

2012: Potential payout of the Spanish Christmas Lottery

In 2012, the Spanish Christmas Lottery's potential total prize payout was worth €2.52 billion, with a maximum potential El Gordo of €720 million.

September 2013: End of lottery broadcast on Yle TV1

On September 29, 2013, the lottery in Finland was televised on Yle TV1 for the last time.

October 2013: Lottery draws postponed on MTV3

In October 2013, the lottery draws in Finland were postponed on MTV3 after ten evening news, because according to FICORA, the sponsorship cooperation between Veikkaus and Yle was illegal.

2013: Reduction in tickets available for the Spanish Christmas Lottery

In 2013, the number of tickets available for the Spanish Christmas Lottery was reduced, lowering the potential maximum prize pool to €2.24 billion, with a maximum potential El Gordo of €720 million.

2014: Value of prize money in 1445 lottery

In 2014, the total prize money of 1737 florins from a lottery in 1445 was worth about US$170,000.

2017: Kerala lottery GST collection

In the fiscal year 2017–2018 Kerala collected GST worth Rs 908 crore and state revenue of Rs 1,691 crore.

2018: Digital lottery option in Ohio

In 2018, Ohio became one of the first states to offer a digital lottery option, using technology developed by Linq3, allowing players to play on their smartphones.

2018: Kerala lottery GST collection

In the fiscal year 2017–2018 Kerala collected GST worth Rs 908 crore and state revenue of Rs 1,691 crore.

January 7, 2020: Largest Canadian jackpot record

On January 7, 2020, a Lotto Max drawing set the record for the largest single jackpot in Canadian lottery history, with a jackpot of $70 million.

May 2022: Channel 4 documentary about lottery winners

In May 2022, the People's Postcode Lottery was the subject of a Channel 4 documentary, The Welsh Valley That Won the Lottery, about the residents of Rhymney who won.

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November 2022: Powerball jackpot record

In November 2022, Powerball set a record for the largest lottery jackpot in U.S. history, with its 8 November 2022 draw having an estimated jackpot of US$2 billion.