The lottery has been around for centuries. The first known lotteries were in Italy and France, and King Francis I of France decided to bring the games to his kingdom to help with the state’s finances. The first French lottery was held in 1539, and the edict of Chateaurenard authorized it. The lottery was a disaster, as tickets were expensive and the social classes opposed the project. In the years that followed, lotteries were banned in France, except for a few instances.
Although legalization of online gambling has not expanded to online lotteries, several Northeastern states are considering the possibility. Last summer, New Hampshire legalized an online lottery. Since then, the state has introduced e-Instant games that can be played on a desktop, smartphone, or tablet. Massachusetts and Rhode Island have also considered legalizing lottery games online. The Internet has also become a viable option for lottery players in the US, with New Jersey joining those states.
There are a few major advantages to playing a lottery online. In many countries, winnings are tax free. In France, Canada, Italy, and Germany, no personal income tax is due on lottery winnings. Liechtenstein pays out prize money in a lump sum without requiring a payment of income tax. However, the United Kingdom pays out its prizes in a lottery annuity and tax-free. In both cases, federal courts have held that the lottery annuity or lump sum received in exchange for a lottery prize are tax-free.