Lottery Fundraising
Lotteries are games of chance where participants pay to buy tickets and hope to win a prize. They range from traditional lottery games to newer games such as keno and video poker. Historically, lotteries have been used to finance public works projects in the United States, including bridges, wharves, and college buildings.
The first recorded European lottery was held during the Roman Empire. Emperor Augustus organized a lottery to raise funds for municipal repairs in Rome. Other recorded lotteries date from the 15th and 16th centuries in Italy and France.
In the 18th century, several colonies held public lottery fundraisers to finance fortifications and other public projects. In 1758, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts used a lottery to raise money for its “Expedition against Canada”.
By the early 1970s, state lotteries had become little more than raffles. But in the late 1960s, New Hampshire became the first state to establish a modern state-run lottery.
Since then, the number of states with operating lottery has increased to 37. However, there are still a few states without a clear policy.
Lottery revenues often go toward financing public programs, such as colleges and schools, but they can also be used to pay for things like housing units. Although the proceeds can seem useful in times of economic stress, they are not always considered as a sound financial alternative.
Some argue that lottery revenues should be spent for a specific public good. Others argue that they are a revenue source for state governments that should be avoided at all costs.