Running Britain's national lottery is not as easy as it was
A lot has changed since its launch in 1994
IN 1567 ELIZABETH I issued a prospectus for England’s first national lottery. A tight-fisted government was one impetus for the venture, which aimed to raise money for Britain’s ailing ports. Enticements for ticket-holders included freedom from arrest for a week (though only for petty crimes), and prizes worth up to £5,000 paid in cash, plate, tapestries and “good linen cloth”. Yet so few people bought the expensive tickets that the top prize had to be trimmed to a 12th of this offering—and loans had to finance the ports.
This article appeared in the Britain section of the print edition under the headline “Eyes on the prize”
Britain February 26th 2022
- Britain’s post-Brexit trade policy is slowly maturing
- After Brexit, Nigel Farage has net zero in his sights
- England’s coronavirus regulations are no more
- Too many British prisoners are still serving indefinite sentences
- Running Britain's national lottery is not as easy as it was
- Clinical trials are ailing
- Crisis in the NHS in 2022 will damage the Conservatives
From the February 26th 2022 edition
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