The first recorded lotteries were held as public fundraisers in various Low Countries towns. The funds were used for the poor and for fortifications. According to town records in Ghent, some of these public lotteries were as old as 1445. In a record dated 9 May 1445 in L’Ecluse, the prize money was valued at 1737 florins. This amount is roughly equivalent to US$170,000 today.
It can cost a lot of money
According to lottery officials, Americans spend more than $70 billion data hk each year on traditional and electronic lottery games. While most Americans do not play the lottery, those who do spend money on tickets do so for a variety of reasons. On average, an adult spends $325 a year on tickets. While that may sound like a small amount, many low-income players spend a higher percentage of their income than do wealthier players.
In addition to the cost of operating the lottery, states also spend money on advertising the game. In some cases, states hire private advertising companies to increase ticket sales. In Maine, for example, the lottery advertising budget increased from $18 million in 2003 to $38 million in 2015.