This is one of the first modern-day lottery tickets sold in 1964

An example of one of the first lottery tickets to be sold by the New Hampshire Lottery   Photo: Wikipedia

New Hampshire became the first USA state to sell lottery tickets since the early 20th century, on March 12, 1964.

It began in 1963 when the New Hampshire legislature passed a law to start a state Sweepstakes after Representative Larry Pickett of Keene, who had championed the idea for ten years, made his case.

On March 10, 1964, New Hampshire held a special vote where most communities agreed to allow the sale of Sweepstakes tickets. Only a handful, 12 towns, and one city ward, didn't want them.

Two days later, on March 12, the Sweepstakes began. But instead of a typical lottery drawing, the results came from horse race outcomes at Rockingham Park in Salem, New Hampshire.

This was a clever way to keep it legal, as lotteries were not allowed under federal law. Tickets were mainly available at state-run liquor stores.

Via Wikipedia