Roman Lottery

  • The first Public Lottery on record in Western Europe, was conducted by the Romans under Augustus (27 BCE-14 CE), to pay for repairs to the municipal buildings in Rome.
  • Increasing the already high taxation risked a backlash, so instead Augustus held a Public Lottery, where the winners did not receive money, but won prizes consisting of items of varying worth.

China

  • The first Public lottery on record is from the Han Dynasty (205-187 BCE) in China.
  • Lottery coupons have been found from this Period which raised money for large projects, such as the Great Wall of China.
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