Lotteries are a form of casino gaming that has existed since ancient times and its appeal continues despite the passage of time.
It is a form of gambling where basically the drawing of certain random numbers, provides a prize for the lucky winners.
Below we will discover a brief summary of the history of lotteries and the reasons why this game is still so popular even in modern times.
Although it is one of the oldest games in the world, it has undergone several modifications and many different forms have been introduced over the centuries.
And while some governments around the world ban this type of betting, others regulate it and even offer state raffles with rich prizes.
Despite differences between nations, the general regulations include a ban on sales to the underage public and a form of legal authorization for ticket resellers.
But how come there are so many people who are fond of raffles?
This entertainment has survived the test of time because many people continue – despite the slim odds of winning big numbers – to dream of a prize that can change their lives.
The Beginnings of Lotteries
Lotteries come in various forms: prize can be a fixed sum of money or goods but most commonly, Jackpot is calculated as a fixed percentage of the income.
The earliest known raffle in Europe originated during the period of the Roman Empire, as a form of entertainment at events and dinners.
On these occasions, guests were given a ticket and each holder knew that he or she would win something, mostly tableware.
However, this form of was the simple distribution of gifts by wealthy nobles during Saturnalia celebrations.
Then the Roman emperor Augustus devised a lottery to obtain funds for the purpose of repairing structures in ancient Rome. In this case, winners received prizes in the form of items of varying value.
Also on the Italian peninsula, there was the first officially registered Italian lottery in Milan on January 9, 1449, organized by the Aurea Repubblica Ambrosiana to finance the war against the Republic of Venice.
The birth of Lotto in Italy
At the same time, Lotto was becoming very popular in Genoa: the game consisted of betting on the name of members of the Grand Council, drawn at random, 5 out of 90 candidates every six months.
At the time, this form of the game was called Semenaiu, and since at some point people wanted to bet more frequently, they began to replace the candidates’ names with numbers, and thus the modern Lotto was born.
Of course, on the genesis of the game in the Italian peninsula we still have no elements of certainty.
What we do know is that there are several progenitors, all derived from raffles.
The game consists of the drawing of 5 numbers between 1 and 90, with prizes for those who guess the numbers.
It would seem that the first Lotto counter dates back to 1528 in the city of Florence. But beyond knowing where it had spread in its early days, the certainty is that the betting habit spread widely to every corner of the country.
By 1863 by then Lotto was widespread throughout Italy, and from that very year it began to be played on 6 different wheels (Florence, Milan, Naples, Palermo, Turin and Venice), which would rise to 7 in 1871, when Rome was annexed to Italy, and to 8 in 1874 with the inclusion of the wheel of Bari.
In 1939 the Cagliari and Genoa wheels were introduced, while the institution of the 11th wheel -National – was on May 4, 2005. The draws over time changed from being semi-weekly to tri-weekly in 2005.
This game has given rise to several subordinate games and one of them is really popular and known as 10eLotto. Born in 2009, simply on a slip you select from 1 to 10 numbers from 1 to 90.
The main reasons that lead people to play raffles
As we have foretold, there are several motivations for playing Lottery that explain the passion of bettors around the world.
First of all, the motivation is economic, as the huge Jackpots are really tempting for players.
For many people, the dream of being able to win all that money triggers fantasies of freedom, such as the possibility of quitting a stressful or boring job or getting out of debt.
Other times, the dream is to be able to help loved ones or to be able to carry out charitable projects.
In short, anyone who dreams of an existential breakthrough and hopes for a better life will seek to realize his or her project through the investment of a small amount of money, with the potential possibility of being able to hit dizzying jackpots.
Some people, on the other hand, play because predicting the winning numbers and watching the draw is fun as a form of pastime; and others because it has become an indispensable habit.
Of course, betting can be harmless; however, in some cases, it can trigger addiction and pathological behavior.
Finally, in many cases, there are people who gamble because there are currently online raffles that are easy to access, without even having to leave the house to buy tickets.
Virtually every form of betting, including 10eLotto and other similar entertainments, are available digitally.
Conclusions
Lotteries have truly existed since ancient times and continue to be enjoyed in modern times as they offer hope and the prospect of changing one’s life. As harmless as they may seem as a simple pastime, it is important to remember that one should never lose a sense of proportion and moderation so as not to trigger addiction.
