The history of the lottery is long and storied, but how did it begin? In the 17th century, lotteries were common in the Low Countries, where they raised money for poor people and for a range of public needs. The game quickly gained popularity, and was even hailed as a form of painless taxation. In fact, the oldest running lottery, the Staatsloterij, was established in 1726. The English word lottery is derived from the Dutch noun, “fate.”

The first lottery was organized by George Washington in the 1760s, with the intention of financing the construction of the Mountain Road in Virginia. Later, Benjamin Franklin supported the practice, and used it to purchase cannons during the Revolutionary War. In 1769, George Washington was the manager of the “Slave Lottery” created by Col. Bernard Moore. The lottery offered slaves and land as prizes. In this way, the first modern lottery dates back to the American Revolution.

A wise choice for lottery players is to find unpopular games. These games may have fewer players and lower competition. Some of the least-popular games are Eurojackpot, Superlotto plus, and Suprenalotto. While these games may have fewer players, they offer smaller jackpots, which means less competition. And, if you have a large inheritance, you can give it away to family and friends in a way that makes them feel special.