Lotteries -- An Interesting History & A Proud Tradition
A Long History of Good Causes
The idea of lotteries isn't a new one. Thoughout history, lotteries have had profound effects on many good causes.
Lotteries first came to the United States in 1612 with the proud Virginia Lottery, which funded half of Jamestown's budget. Lottery funds were used to fight the adversities of early Virginia, such as disease, fire, and famine.
Early U.S. lotteries helped fund the Colonial Army in the Revolutionary War, gallantly fighting for independence from the British, by providing arms and uniforms. After the war, these dollars paid to repair much of the damage left behind.
Our founding fathers, Washington and Jefferson, depended on lotteries to fund the early development of our nation. Many churches and early universities, such as Harvard, Yale, Princeton, and Dartmouth, were funded in part by lotteries.
Thomas Jefferson was a strong advocate for early lotteries. To quote Mr. Jefferson, "A lottery is a salutary instrument and a tax ... laid on the willing only, that is to say, on those who can risk the price of a ticket without sensible injury, for the possibility of a higher prize."
Today, two-thirds of our states have lotteries. They have become a vital part of each state's revenues, funding a variety of programs, such as elderly care, education, and often, economic development.
The Oregon Lottery is recognized world-wide as a leader in the lottery industry and is proud of the major contribution Lottery funds have made to Oregon's economy. Projections indicate that Oregon Lottery dollars will become even more critical as part of this state's revenues.
http://www.oregonlottery.org/general/l_hist.shtml
