The first known lottery dates back to the seventeenth century in the Netherlands, where the public was encouraged to play. Funds were raised for public purposes, including town fortifications. People were enthusiastic about this new tax system, which was seen as a less-seen form of taxation than taxation by a government. The oldest lottery in existence, the Staatsloterij, dates back to 1726. The English word lottery is derived from the Dutch noun, “lotterij”, meaning “fate.”
Earlier, players had few options when it came to playing the lottery. These were limited by their location and limited by the prizes they could win. Now, however, there are many different ways to play the lottery. Online, lottery fans can take advantage of the wide variety of payment options available. Credit cards are accepted for tickets bought online, but many states prohibit this method of payment. In addition, big prize winners must personally attend the lottery office in order to collect their prize money.
The first online lottery launched in Virginia coincided with the outbreak of COVID-19. The bill was already in the works when the pandemic struck. Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam signed the legislation, and the lottery was live in less than a year. Several states have now introduced lottery games online, but five of them have not yet started. In the meantime, Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico are launching their own online lottery. There are also online versions of monopoly games in Washington D.C.