In the mid-1960s, New York’s lottery introduced a new way to win money. It grossed $53.6 million in its first year and enticed residents of neighboring states to buy tickets. As a result, twelve other states began establishing their own lotteries. By the 1970s, the lottery had become firmly entrenched throughout the Northeast. This is likely due to a combination of a desperate need for public funding and a large Catholic population that was generally accepting of gambling activities.
New York
The New York lottery is a state-operated game that was first launched in 1967. It is run by the New York State Gaming Commission and generates revenue for public education. Its headquarters are located in Schenectady.
Massachusetts
The Massachusetts Lottery is a state-run lottery that was established on September 27, 1971. This is the year the legislature legalized gambling in Massachusetts.
Delaware
The Delaware lottery is run by the government of the state of Delaware. It was established by a state legislature on May 31, 1974. The lottery offers a variety of games including Keno, sports betting, and video lottery.
New Mexico
The New Mexico lottery is run by the government of New Mexico and has been in operation since 1996. It is a member of the Multi-State Lottery Association and offers both draw and scratch-off games.
Rhode Island
The Rhode Island Lottery is run by the state government. It was established in 1974, following a 1973 constitutional amendment. The lottery is a charter member of the Multi-State Lottery Association.
Pennsylvania
The Pennsylvania Lottery is an official lottery that is operated by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It was established on August 26, 1971 by the Pennsylvania General Assembly. The first executive director was Henry Kaplan.
Ohio
Ohio has a lottery system that is run by the Ohio Lottery Commission. Players can play a variety of lottery games, including scratch tickets, Pick 3, Pick 4, Rolling Cash 5, Keno, Lucky for Life, and Mega Millions. The Powerball game is also available in Ohio.