National Lottery Day Date in the current year: July 17, 2024

A lottery, sometimes shortened to lotto, is a form of gambling where numbers are drawn at random for a prize. The history of lotteries can be traced to ancient China (the Han dynasty) and the Roman Empire. The earliest recorded lotteries in medieval Europe were held in Bruges, Ghent, Utrecht, Milan, and Genoa.

European colonists brought lotteries to North America. According to research based on the analysis of newspaper advertisements, several hundred lotteries were held in the Thirteen Colonies. The colonies used them not only as entertainment, but also as a source of revenue to support themselves.

Following the independence of the United States, lotteries were commonly authorized by state legislatures to raise funds for bridges, roads, schools, and other public works. However, in the first half of the 19th century, a number of states prohibited lotteries due to anti-lottery campaigns initiated by Evangelical reformers and a general backlash against crooked lotteries. By 1890, all states but Louisiana and Delaware had lottery bans.

In 1934, the first modern government-run lottery in the United States was established in Puerto Rico. It was followed by the Virgin Islands Lottery in 1937. These two lotteries were the only ones in the United States for almost three decades. The first modern lottery in the contiguous United States was established in New Hampshire in 1964.

As of 2023, lotteries were established in all states except for Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada and Utah, as well as in the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the United States Virgin Islands. Alabama does not allow lotteries on religious grounds, Utah has banned all forms of gambling, and in Nevada, the local gambling industry has lobbied against the establishment of a state lottery in fear of competition.

National Lottery Day was launched in 2018 by the Massachusetts State Lottery to create a day of special promotions for consumers and retail partners and encourage consumers to buy lottery products. Since then, more local and state lotteries across the United States and Canada have joined the celebration, and National Lottery Day has been expanded into National Lottery Week (a full week in July that includes July 17).

The best way to celebrate National Lottery Day is to make the most of the promotions offered by your local or state lottery. You can buy a lottery ticket for yourself, gift one to a friend or family member, or do both. Maybe you won’t win anything, but maybe you will. You will never know unless you try! And don’t forget to spread the word about the holiday on social media with the hashtags #NationalLotteryDay and #LotteryDay.

National Lottery Day should not be confused with International Lottery Day, celebrated annually on August 27. The origins of the latter are somewhat murky, but it is believed to have originated in the United Kingdom.