People have been playing the lottery for centuries. Ancient Chinese records show that lottery games were held between 205 and 187 BC. They financed important government projects, such as the Great Wall of China. Later, lotteries were played in the Roman Empire as entertainment during dinner parties. In fact, the first commercial lottery was held by Emperor Augustus. The profits from this lottery were used to repair the city. This belief has been challenged by numerous researchers. Now, lottery games are widely available to individuals worldwide.

Online sales of lottery tickets have increased lottery revenue. Although anti-gambling groups are opposed to online lottery sales, many lottery enthusiasts have embraced online sales. Currently, six states have legalized online lotteries. Another several are considering the idea. Online lottery sales are growing faster than those of online casinos. That means that the state will benefit more directly from this expanding gaming industry. Regardless of legalization, the US lottery industry is still a large and profitable one.

Today, most US states offer a lottery website. The primary utility of these sites is to provide information on lottery results, winning numbers, locations, and contact information. However, a few state lotteries are expanding their service offerings by offering Instant Games, a kind of casino game that allows players to wager money on the draw results. Some of these games are available on both the web and mobile apps. This means you don’t need to travel for hours to play the lottery!