LIVE DRAW SINGAPORE the many forms of gambling, the lottery has been around for hundreds of years. The first recorded lotteries in Europe date back to the Roman Empire, when wealthy noblemen distributed tickets with money or prizes during Saturnalian revels. These lottery slips are believed to have helped finance major government projects.

In the 17th century, the Dutch were also very involved in lotteries. Several colonies used the lottery to fund fortifications and local militias. In some cases, the money was lent by the government for a period of three years. The Continental Congress also used lotteries to raise funds for the Colonial Army.

The first modern lottery in the US was held in New Hampshire in 1964. The prize was a lump sum, and tax-free. A state lottery was approved by voters eleven years later. A few colonies also used the lottery to finance colleges and other public projects.

The German lotteries date back to the 16th century. The first German lottery was held in Hamburg in 1614. The Lotto di Genova was drawn during the reign of Empress Maria Theresia. A local lottery called Neapolitan Smorfia was also popular. In the 1740s, several lotteries were held in the United States to finance the University of Pennsylvania, Princeton and Columbia Universities.

There were also lotteries in many Low Countries towns. The Virginia Company of London, a British corporation, supported the settlement of America at Jamestown, and was involved in many private lottery fundraisers. In 1769, Col. Bernard Moore organized a “Slave Lottery” that offered a number of slaves as prizes. This game drew a large crowd, and the winning ticket was signed by George Washington. It sold for $15,000 in 2007.

During the American Revolution, the Lotto was used to raise funds for the Colonial Army. The University of Pennsylvania was financed with the Academy Lottery in 1755. In 1758, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts raised money with a lottery for the “Expedition against Canada.” During the eighteenth century, there were 200 lotteries in colonial America.

The game was eventually banned in France for two centuries. The English lotteries ran for over 250 years. Some governments in the United States endorsed the lottery, while others outlawed it.

The United States government did not officially outlaw the lottery until 1826. By that time, the majority of forms of gambling were illegal. A few states, such as Nevada, still had casinos that block public lotteries. The Chinese Book of Songs referred to a game of chance as a “drawing of wood.” Some governments, such as Finland and Ireland, do not levy personal income taxes. However, in many countries, including Germany, personal income taxes are imposed on income earned by residents. In France, the lottery is not taxable. In India, there are a number of lotteries, and most are run by the state.

The United Kingdom, Ireland and New Zealand do not levy any taxes on lottery winners. Liechtenstein pays out prizes as a lump sum, and they are not subject to personal income taxes. In Canada, there are five regional Lottos that operate in the provinces of Ontario, Quebec, Atlantic Canada, British Columbia and Western Canada.