Lotteries are a great way to raise money for good causes. Each state donates a portion of the revenue to various causes, such as education, park services, veterans, and senior citizens. Lotteries have roots that date back centuries. In the Old Testament, Moses was told to take a census of Israel, and in the Roman Empire, emperors used lotteries to distribute slaves and property. Lotteries were introduced to the United States by British colonists, though the practice was banned in ten states between 1844 and 1859.