The settlers brought the lottery to America. It's had a long, uneven history
Americans spend an estimated $100 billion each year on lottery tickets. It's a tradition that dates back to the nation's earliest settlers, and was even one the Founding Fathers took part in.
One very lucky person in Florida just won $1.58 billion in the Mega Millions jackpot drawing, with an estimated before-taxes payout of $783.3 million.
The Mega Millions started in 1996 as the Big Game. It is now played in 45 states, the District of Colombia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Its cousin, Powerball, debuted in 1988 as Lotto America, and is offered today in the same states as Mega Millions, but not Puerto Rico. Only Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada and Utah do not sell lottery tickets.
In short, state lotteries are each year on tickets. But that wasn't always the case.Their history, both as public and private games, has had a long and sometimes rocky history in the U.S.
