The first recorded game of chance was in China. Chinese scholars have discovered that the Han Dynasty, between 205 and 187 BC, used lottery slips to fund important public projects. The Chinese Book of Songs also mentions the game, which was referred to as the “drawing of wood or lots.”
Today, online lotteries offer a variety of payment options for winners, from annual payments of $25 up to a balloon payment in the final year. These lottery sites invest in government-backed securities and pay out winners through an insurance backup. The majority of online lottery players choose a lump sum payment to receive their prize. The first time you withdraw your winnings, you will need to complete an Authorization Form for your lottery winnings and submit proper identification.
Some lottery sites also offer a discount on your next ticket, or even refund the cost of your first ticket if you’re a member. Others try to lure you with subscriptions, which keep you active in future drawings. Others award free lottery tickets for your tenth or fifteenth game. You can also earn additional income from Refer a Friend program, which typically involves a bonus cash for each friend you refer. In addition, many lottery websites offer a mobile app that lets you scan your ticket and store it in your pocket.
The first recorded lottery included money prizes. Low-country towns held public lotteries for poor people and walls. Although this early form of lottery is far older than the one we know today, town records suggest that the first recorded lottery dates back to 1445. A record from L’Ecluse mentions a lottery with four hundred and thirty-four tickets worth florins, the equivalent of US$170,000 in 2014.
