According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, lotteries as a form of gambling, have been in existence since the 1400's when towns tried to raise money to fortify their defenses. By 1567, Queen Elizabeth I established a lottery with cash and prize winnings. In 1612, a lottery even helped finance the settlement of Jamestown, in what is now Virginia.

The Scratch-Off Lottery Card is a relatively new concept. Rather than having to wait for a drawing, an "Instant Game" was introduced in 1974.

You can get more information and even download an online Scratch-Off game to play, by clicking