The first UK National Lottery draw took place on November 19, 1994.

In 1974 Massachusetts sold the first lotto scratchcards (“instant scratch-off tickets”).

In 1930 the Irish Sweepstakes was launched and even though tickets were illegal outside Ireland, millions were sold in the US, UK and Canada.

The Dutch state-owned Staatsloterij (“State Lottery”), established 1726, is the world’s oldest continuously operating lottery.

King Francis I of France authorized the first French lottery, the Loterie Royale in 1539.

In the 15th century, the first recorded lotteries that offered tickets for sale with money prizes were held in the Low Countries (mainly, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg). Records from L’Ecluse (now, “Sluis” in the Netherlands) dated May 9, 1445 mention raising funds via a lottery to build walls and town fortifications.