International Lottery Day

Everyone who believes in random luck will enjoy celebrating International Lottery Day! This day is all about the core principle of the ancient game of lottery: you get free entry or the chance to participate for a small fee (by buying a ticket) and could win money or a material prize.

History

The reason why International Lottery Day is celebrated on August 27 is not exactly known, but this date has become the worldwide holiday for lottery fans. The actual “birthday” of the lottery falls on another date—February 24—in honor of a lottery organized in Bruges in 1466 by the widow of the famous artist Jan van Eyck. However, this is also debated, as lotteries appeared even earlier!

Interesting Facts

What do we know about the history of lotteries?

1. The first known lottery was organized by a god. The ancient Greek supreme deity Zeus proposed that great warriors take turns pulling out pebbles stacked in a golden helmet. The winner got the chance to test their strength against Zeus.
2. In ancient China, proceeds from the lottery were used to help build the Great Wall, which became the prototype of the famous lottery with Keno balls.
3. Julius Caesar is credited with organizing lotteries in ancient Rome—this way, he managed to raise funds to improve the Eternal City.
4. Queens also organized lotteries. In 1599, Queen Elizabeth I of England managed to help the country recover from crisis with an elaborate lottery. As prizes, subjects of the “good Queen Bess” won gold and large sums of money. In Austria, the Zahlenlotto lottery, created by Empress Maria Theresa, still exists today. The first drawing took place on October 21, 1752, at Lobkowitzplatz in Vienna.
5. In the United States, the first well-known lotteries were organized by George Washington and Benjamin Franklin. Washington created the Mountain Road Lottery in 1769, using the proceeds to build a road network in Virginia. Franklin, elected to Congress in 1775, used lottery income to raise funds for the defense of Philadelphia during the Revolutionary War.

How to Take Part

Celebrate International Lottery Day—buy a lottery ticket, even if you don’t believe you’ll win!

When is International Lottery Day in 2025?

International Lottery Day is observed on August 27 each year.

Observations