The global lottery market is divided into three parts: draw-based games, online instant games, and sports lotteries. In 2017, draw-based games occupied more than half of the total market share. With a CAGR of over 8%, this segment is projected to expand at a rapid pace. Growing acceptance of lottery among consumers across the globe has given rise to numerous new gambling games. In addition, advances in banking security and internet encryption have allowed operators to offer secure online gambling to players. Furthermore, integration of big data with lottery operations allows companies to gain insights into consumer trends and patterns.
The first recorded lotteries offered tickets in exchange for monetary prizes. Different Low-country towns organized public lotteries to raise funds for various projects, including fortifications and the poor. Though these lotteries are not as old as the modern lottery, evidence from town records suggests that they may have been as far back as the 14th century. The town of L’Ecluse, Belgium, mentions a lottery in a record dated 9 May 1445. This lottery involved selling 4,304 tickets. The total prize money was 1737 florins, which would be about US$170,000 in 2014.
Some lottery ticket sellers have resorted to smuggling tickets. According to HK01, lottery smugglers were transporting lottery tickets to mainland China from Hong Kong. The Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department said that the seized tickets were generated by computer programs and bought for HK$330,000 each.