The first known lotteries were held during the Roman Empire, and were primarily used for entertainment during dinner parties. Tickets were distributed to guests, with the winner receiving a prize such as fancy dinnerware. Historically, lotteries may have been as far back as the Old Testament, when Moses divided land among the Israelites. Even the Roman emperors were rumored to have held lotteries to give away slaves and property. The lottery originated in Europe and was brought to the United States by British colonists. In 1844, ten states banned lottery games.

Online lottery sites are available in many US states. The primary utility is seeing who won the lottery and where to buy a ticket. Some online lotteries have even begun offering instant games, or “instant games,” which are similar to casino scratch-off games and can be played on the web or through mobile apps. If you want to play lottery games on your laptop, be sure to visit the official website of your state lottery. It’s easy to find the results of a recent lottery drawing and check out your ticket online.

Other States in the US have their own lottery systems. The Illinois Lottery, for example, has been around since 1974. It runs Mega Millions and Powerball games, along with several local games. Moreover, it donates most of its proceeds to public schools and college education. Several multi-state lotteries operate in the state, such as the Multi-State Lottery Association. In each state, 25 cents of every dollar of lottery proceeds go to public programs and the common school fund.