The first recorded lotteries in history offered money prizes for tickets. Low country towns began holding public lotteries as a means to raise funds for public projects and to support the poor. These lotteries became incredibly popular and were often hailed as a tax-free way of raising money. Today, the oldest lottery in the world, the Staatsloterij, was established in 1726. The word lottery comes from the Dutch noun ‘lot’, meaning “fate.”
The Maryland Lottery Division is led by the Director of the State Lottery and Gaming Control Agency, a position that is appointed by the Governor and approved by the Senate and the Legislative Policy Committee of the General Assembly. The director of the State Lottery and Gaming Control Agency oversees the lottery’s marketing and advertising programs and purchases advertising space and time in order to create awareness of the Lottery and its winners. The Division also manages the production of Lottery advertising materials for print, television, and radio.
The New Hampshire Lottery sued the Department of Justice, but the federal court ruled in its favor. The legal landscape favors additional states in offering online lottery ticket sales, particularly as budget deficits are a serious concern for legislatures. Online lottery sales have not yet cannibalized retail sales, but they have widened the market for lottery products and have normalized online gambling. It is also important to note that lottery websites may not be affiliated with state governments, but many people still use them.