Who conducted the first national lottery?
first NATIONAL LOTTERY
The first NATIONAL LOTTERY was conducted for the repair of harbours, fortifications and other public works under a royal proclamation issued by Queen Elizabeth in 1567. There were 400,000 tickets at 10 s each, though these could be subdivided ‘for the convenience of the poorer classes’. The draw for the prizes began on 11 January 1569 in a building specially erected at the west door of St Paul’s Cathedral and continued day and night until 6 May.
Lotteries were conducted in the ensuing centuries for such diverse projects as opening up Virginia to settlers (1612), improving London’s water supply (1630) and building Westminster Bridge (1736). In the changed moral climate of the early 19th century lotteries were deemed to be a ‘legalized swindle’ and the last government-backed one for nearly 170 years was drawn on 18 October 1826.
Britain’s first regular national lottery was inaugurated under government control on 19 November 1994 by the Camelot consortium offering weekly jackpots of £ 1 million, with roll-over of up to £ 15 million, and 250,000 smaller prizes. About 50 per cent of the proceeds of the £ 1 tickets went in prizes. 23 per cent to good causes, including charities, arts, sport, heritage and the Millennium Fund, and 12 per cent in tax (the balance to the operator). It is expected to be the largest lottery in the world.
