Massachusetts Lottery
Massachusetts may be one of the smaller states in the US, but its lottery performs in a giant way, even providing a number of US lottery firsts over the years. The most significant of these was the introduction of the very first US Lotto game back in 1978.
The original Massachusetts Lotto required players to pick six numbers from 49. However, it was canceled after 13 weeks for failing to provide big jackpots. The MA lottery further launched the first instant lottery tickets in 1974 offering an instant top prize of $10,000.
MA State Senator, Michael Rush, introduced a bill in 2011 allowing state lottery tickets to be sold online via credit cards, the first of its kind in lottery history. In 1981, the very first online terminals were installed at Massachusetts lottery agents throughout the state.
Since 1971, this lottery has been in the news for many reasons. There have been several big jackpot winners, with sales going through the roof with over $10 million worth of tickets sold in a single day. This lottery has also donated copious amounts to local communities, with 350 cities and towns benefitting from funds.