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Lotteries have a rich and diverse history, dating as far back as biblical times. Although scholars remain unresolved regarding the exact origin of the lottery, ancient references have mentioned use of lotteries to aid in the construction of the Great Wall of China and the awarding of land by Moses in the Bible. In Europe throughout the 15th and 17th centuries, lotteries where used as an important fundraising device to aid nations in deficit, finance wars, and help with the development of national infrastructure. Lotteries first reached North America in 1607 as a tool used by the Virginia Company to raise funds for the establishment of the first permanent English settlement. Corruption of private lottery systems quickly became rampant in the 19th century, which prompted the passing of a constitutional prohibition on lotteries in the United States. The start of the 20th century brought changes to the lottery with the Queensland State Lottery of Australia and the Irish Sweepstakes, gaining immense appeal in areas where lotteries remained unlawful. As a result, state lotteries came into being towards the end of the 1900's, beginning with the state of New Hampshire and quickly followed by New York, New Jersey, and many others. In the 1970's, the first online lottery system was created in addition to the later scratch-off instant lottery tickets which offered immediate cash winnings. Lottery sales skyrocketed in the 1980's and 90's with the development of new lottery strategies, such as multi-price and extended point strategies. The Georgia Lottery, founded in 1992, was created to raise funds for the state's education system and continues to be remarkably successful by bringing in billions of dollars each year in sales. Today, lotteries remain as powerful moneymakers with even larger jackpots and farther-reaching effects than ever before.
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