New Jersey Lottery celebrates 50-year anniversary

Nov 1, 2019, 12:33 pm (15 comments)

New Jersey Lottery

New Jersey is celebrating the Golden Anniversary of voters approving the establishment of a State Lottery, which at the time made New Jersey only the third U.S. state to pass a legal lottery.

As part of the 1969 General Election, the measure was wholeheartedly welcomed by an astonishing 81.5% voter approval, making it one of the largest favorable public responses in New Jersey legislative history.

"The goal was to establish a state lottery similar to those conducted in neighboring states and abroad. The New Hampshire and New York Lotteries had been quickly embraced by their communities, and it wasn't surprising considering what else was happening in the world at the time," said New Jersey Lottery's Acting Executive Director James Carey. "American Astronaut Neil Armstrong became the first human to set foot on the Moon in 1969, and later that summer, the Woodstock Festival attracted nearly half a million people for a weekend celebrating music. People were very open to change and possibility."

Approval of the New Jersey State Lottery occurred in 1969, but it would take until December 16, 1970 for the first lottery ticket to be sold. The ensuing months allowed for the creation of regulations, selection of a Lottery Director, and the formation of a Lottery Commission.

"The original hope was that the lottery would produce in the area of $12 million annually. There is no way that the voters in 1969 could have foreseen that revenues contributed to the State would exceed $26 billion over the next 50 years, continuing to make New Jersey a great place to live, work, and raise a family," Carey continued.

This country has a long history with lotteries stretching back to the original 13 colonies, where lotteries were established to raise revenues to fund schools and universities. In 1823, Congress approved a private lottery with proceeds used to beautify Washington, D.C. However, the love affair with lotteries followed a tumultuous path, with breakups and makeups playing out over the years. By 1910, almost all types of gambling were illegal in the U.S. The first modern state lottery did not appear until 1964 in New Hampshire, followed in 1967 by a second state lottery in New York.

Currently, 46 states and the District of Columbia operate lotteries. Mississippi is the latest state to start a lottery, with scratch-off ticket sales starting this month and sales of Powerball and Mega Millions starting in January.

There are over 200 lotteries worldwide and the New Jersey Lottery is ranked ninth in U.S. total sales and 23rd in worldwide total sales.

About the New Jersey Lottery

Since its inception in 1970, the Lottery has contributed more than $26.8 billion to the State. As its fifth-largest revenue producer, the Lottery is a significant economic engine for New Jersey, helping to bolster the public employee pension system for teachers, police and fire personnel and other public employees, as well as supporting businesses and communities throughout New Jersey. As a sign of its commitment to responsibly play, the New Jersey Lottery achieved the World Lottery Association's Level 4 Certification in Responsible Gaming. This certification is the most comprehensive measure of responsible play among lotteries in the industry. The New Jersey Lottery was first granted this certification in 2016 and will continue to uphold the most thorough and complete responsible gaming initiatives for the entirety of the Lottery's tenure.

Press Release, Lottery Post Staff

Comments

Raven62's avatarRaven62

Party Happy Anniversary! Party

music*'s avatarmusic*

  Party Congratulations to the New Jersey State Lottery.

 I am able to read about the winners in New Jersey here on Lottery Post. I use the Search function.Hyper

davcslr

I am confused. If this is only the third state to pass legal lottery then the other states that have lottery, are they illegal?

sully16's avatarsully16

Congrats New Jersey and Happy Anniversary CheersParty

Todd's avatarTodd

Quote: Originally posted by davcslr on Nov 1, 2019

I am confused. If this is only the third state to pass legal lottery then the other states that have lottery, are they illegal?

In 1969 NJ was the third state to make a lottery legal.  In later years, the other states had similar measures passed in their legislatures and constitutions making their lotteries legal.  They just haven't reached the 50-year mark that NJ has.

Stack47

"The original hope was that the lottery would produce in the area of $12 million annually."

The New Jersey Lottery started with a weekly drawing and the first ticket was sold to then Governor William Cahill on Dec. 16, 1970. The evolution of lottery games certainly contributed to the average yearly income of $535 million and greatly exceeded their first estimates.

A few years ago in Atlantic City, I was pleasantly surprised when I hit a pick-3 number for $2 straight and $1 and collected almost $1500. But their para-mutual payoffs work both ways; in June a $1 straight ticket on 444 paid $312. 

They have a nice verity of games and probably why they are successful. 

'

TheGameGrl's avatarTheGameGrl

I do give new jersey credit for its transparency. It's revenue goes back in its pockets. 

High taxes still reign in that state.

Cassie8620's avatarCassie8620

transparency is best, in each and every field of life, so props to the state of new jersey, and congratulations,See Ya!

 

on almost or at fifty years. Real nice to see that.

good luck to all playing their state games tonight! and all winter.Hurray!

music*'s avatarmusic*

Quote: Originally posted by Todd on Nov 1, 2019

In 1969 NJ was the third state to make a lottery legal.  In later years, the other states had similar measures passed in their legislatures and constitutions making their lotteries legal.  They just haven't reached the 50-year mark that NJ has.

Todd, President Harrison signed into law a ban on all lotteries in 1894. Due to the State of Louisiana corrupting other States before the ban was enacted. It was described as being like a Serpent.

 Is that ban still on the books? But not enforced.

  Sad Cheers 

Raven62's avatarRaven62

Quote: Originally posted by davcslr on Nov 1, 2019

I am confused. If this is only the third state to pass legal lottery then the other states that have lottery, are they illegal?

The federal government outlawed use of the mail for lotteries in 1890, and in 1895 invoked the Commerce Clause to forbid shipments of lottery tickets or advertisements across state lines, effectively ending all lotteries in the U.S.

In the past hundred years lotteries became legal in most US states. In the 1930s the United States government decided to organize legal lotteries. The first one was established in Puerto Rico in 1934, and New Hampshire followed in 1964.

Evangelical reformers in the 1830s began denouncing lotteries on moral grounds and petitioned legislatures and constitutional conventions to ban them. Recurring lottery scandals and a general backlash against legislative corruption following the Panic of 1837 also contributed to anti-lottery sentiments. From 1844 to 1859 alone, 10 new state constitutions contained lottery bans. By 1890, lotteries were prohibited in every state except Delaware and Louisiana.

music*'s avatarmusic*

Raven62, Thank You very much for this knowledge. The Lotteries today work very hard on keeping the games honest. Their jobs depend on it. Lessons learned during the 19th Century.

 Human nature remains the same over the centuries. We must be vigilant. 

  There have been famous orators and authors whose comments about winning a lottery prize. It does not always turn out for the best for the winners. Both now and in the past. Again in the future as well. 

Stack47

Quote: Originally posted by davcslr on Nov 1, 2019

I am confused. If this is only the third state to pass legal lottery then the other states that have lottery, are they illegal?

New Jersey was the third state to create a lottery and since then 42 other states and D.C. created lotteries.  Considering the fact each state decides what is illegal in their states, creating an illegal lottery makes no sense.   

the establishment of a State Lottery, which at the time made New Jersey only the third U.S. state to pass a legal lottery.

There were and still are illegal lotteries in most states but they weren't created or run by states through legislation. Don't know why the Jersey lottery people used the term "legal lottery". 

razer

Funny how legality is being discussed regarding state lotto.

Pick 3 lotto was started by likes of Bumpy Johnson and Dutch Schultz running daily number rackets before states legalized it and making a fortune instead of criminal gangs they copied from. Illegal pick 3 still goes on, paying much higher than any state lotto.

NJJim's avatarNJJim

Wow, 50 years!  Do us a favor and kill the Cash Pop game.

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