13th birthday
The National Lottery celebrated its thirteenth birthday a couple of days ago. Yes, I know it’s hard to believe, but it really was thirteen years ago – on 19 November, 1994 – that the United Kingdom first discovered the magic of lotteries. As far as countries with lotteries go, the UK was actually a bit behind the times.
Lotteries have of course been around for thousands of years, and the earliest know variation of the game can be traced back to ancient China, where funds raised were used to finance the building of the Great Wall. But even if we only think of lotteries in terms of the modern 6/49 type games, the UK was still a late bloomer. A number of American states were playing lotteries as far back as the 1960’s and 1970’s, and using the proceeds to fund a range of social projects for the benefit of the local community.
Yet despite the fact that the UK didn’t get a lottery until 1994, we’ve done pretty well at establishing a name for ourselves. Camelot, the company that operates the lottery in the UK, have not only managed to make the Lotto and a number of secondary lottery games hugely successful, but it was also one of three companies that were responsible for making Euromillions a reality.
Having been awarded a third lottery licence in August of this year, the plans to bring more British lottery magic to the our own nation and the world at large can continue. We can expect new domestic games and better technology. A World Lottery draw is also in the developmental stages.
Although some of us (okay, I mean me) moan about the UK National Lottery from time to time, when all is said and done we have a game to be proud of. It’s fair, it’s entertaining and it raises billions of pounds for good causes. So happy birthday Lotto. Your thirteenth year is bound to be lucky for some.
Article Last Updated: 27/11/2007 10:00:24
