Początki gdańskich loterii publicznych na cele dobroczynne w XVIII wieku. Organizacja i zasady
The Beginnings of Public Lotteries for Charitable Purposes in Eighteenth-Century Gdańsk: Organisation and Rules

Summary/Abstract: This article examines the origins and early development of public lotteries organised for charitable purposes in Gdańsk (Ger. Danzig) during the first half of the eighteenth century. The topic has not previously been the subject of systematic scholarly analysis. The study explores the organisation and objectives of these lotteries, the statistical probability of winning, as well as their significance for the social policy of Gdańsk. The findings demonstrate that the likelihood of obtaining a prize ranged from 3 to 49 per cent, and the prizes varied considerably in value. A substantial proportion of the prizes consisted of sums only slightly exceeding the ticket price. In some early schemes, all lottery tickets were theoretically designated as 'winning', yet the majority of prizes fell below the original purchase price. Over time, more complex 'tier lotteries' were introduced, which featured multiple prize tiers and ticket prices, and prize amounts increased progressively. In these schemes, the duration of the lottery was extended and drawings for successive tiers were held at two-week intervals. Surviving sources indicate that the earliest lotteries were organised directly by the municipal authorities. In subsequent decades, responsibility for their administration shifted to charitable institutions responsible for poor relief.

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