A History of the French Lottery

The history of the lottery is very varied and interesting. It can be used for military conscription, commercial promotions, or even to select juries. The main point is that the lottery has to involve paying someone money in exchange for the chance of winning. There are strict rules and regulations imposed by lottery officials to prevent the “rigging” of results. The most popular lotteries in the world are France and Italy. Here is a history of the French lottery.

lottery

The first recorded lotteries involved tickets with money prizes. This type of lottery was popular in the Low Countries and was meant to help towns raise funds to improve fortifications and provide aid to the poor. Although this form of lottery is relatively new, some evidence suggests that it is centuries old. A record from 1445 in L’Ecluse, France, mentions a lottery to raise money for the town’s walls and fortifications. This game of chance is described in the Chinese Book of Songs as a “drawing of wood” or “drawing of lots.”

In the early days, there was no better way to raise funds than through a lottery. Many societies around the world had some form of lottery. The Chinese Han Dynasty, for example, held public lotteries to support major government projects. These public lotteries were as ancient as 205 BC. The lottery was even mentioned in the Chinese Book of Songs. Regardless of the origins of the lottery, it was a great way for communities to raise money for important projects.