1970
- March 14
- In Canada, Quebec is the first province to launch a legal lottery. The Inter Plus lottery offers a CDN$150,000 grand prize for $2 tickets. [40.19]
- April 22
- New York Governor Nelson Rockefeller signs into law a package of revenue aids for New York City, including off-track betting. [86.170]
- (month unknown)
- New Jersey authorizes a state lottery. [86.101]
- December 16
- New Jersey State Lottery begins sale of 50-cent tickets in weekly lottery on 6-digit number. This is a big improvement over monthly and higher cost lotteries of New Hampshire and New York. [86.57]
1971
- March 17
- Edward Henry of Morristown, New Jersey, is first person to win US$1 million in a State lottery. [86.57]
- April 8
- First legal off-track betting system begins (OTB-New York). [1]
- (month unknown)
- New Jersey launches the first financially-successful modern lottery. [39]
- Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania authorize state lotteries. [86.101]
1972
- February 7
- Morocco issues a 25-centimes postage stamp promoting the creation of the national lottery. [143.1074]
- (month unknown)
- Maryland and Michigan authorize state lotteries. [86.101]
- November
- New Jersey begins a daily drawn lottery. [86.58]
1973
- (month unknown)
- In the USA, the Commission on the Review of National Policy toward Gambling is created to study gambling in the United States. [39]
- Delaware and Ohio authorize state lotteries. [86.101]
- September 6
- New York Times reports almost all Superfecta harness racing run at Yonkers, Roosevelt and Monticello from January to March of 1973 were fixed. [1]
- September 12
- Two bettors win the largest US Daily Double (US$19,909.60 in Detroit, Michigan). [1]
- November 8
- Nevada approves pari-mutuel betting on Jai Alai. [1]
1974
- March 6
- An Italian loses a record US$1,920,000 at roulette in Monte Carlo. [1]
- April 15
- The first Olympic lottrery draw is held in Canada. Nine winners share the CDN$1 million top prize, while one person wins the $500,000 second prize. [40.87]
- May 28
- Massachusetts State Lottery begins selling first instant game lottery tickets. [86.58]
- (month unknown)
- Holland America Line adds a Slot Machine Room to the Rotterdam cruise ship. [73.32]
- Home Lines adds a Slot Machine Room to the Oceanic cruise ship. [73.32]
- Illinois, Maine, and Rhode Island authorize state lotteries. [86.101]
- New Jersey referendum on government-owned/operated casinos in the state fails by 3-to-2 margin. [86.177]
- Gamex Industries develops one of the first electronic slot machines. [87.14]
- Year
- In the USA, total bingo wagering estimated at US1.7 billion. [86.48]
- In the USA, total state lottery gross sales: US$681 million. [86.131]
- In the USA, total legal gambling: US$17.3 billion. [86.241]
1975
- February
- In Canada, Ontario launches the bi-weekly Wintario lottery draw. [40.19]
- May 22
- The first legal numbers game in the USA is New Jersey State Lottery's "Pick-it", in which players choose their own 3-digit number in a daily drawing. [86.59]
1976
- February 3
- Netherlands issues a postage stamp for the 250th anniversary of the National Lottery, depicting an 18th century lottery ticket. [143.1175]
- (month unknown)
- In the USA, the Commission on the Review of National Policy toward Gambling releases its report. [39]
- August
- In Canada, five provinces form the Interprovincial Lottery Corporation. [40.19]
- (month unknown)
- In Canada, the Interprovincial Lottery Corporation launches the Provincial lottery. Tickets cost $5 each, and offer a top prize of CDN$1 million. Each ticket contains a 7-digit number, and an instant-win scratch box. [40.154]
- October 31
- In Canada, the first draw of the Provincial lottery is held. [40.154]
- November 2
- A referendum in New Jersey approves legalizing casino gaming for Atlantic City by a 3-to-2 margin. [86.68,145]
- November 8
- New Jersey legalizes gambling. [39] [86.179]
- December 12
- Delaware State Lottery cancels its Touchdown II multiple-choice fixed-odds spotrs card game, due to risk of loss. [86.103]
- December
- New Jersey Lottery begins Touchdown football-themed lottery game. [86.58]
- Year
- Lottery ticket sales revenue in the USA: US$975.5 million. [40.152]
1977
- June 2
- New Jersey allows casino gambling in Atlantic City. [1]
- (month unknown)
- Vermont authorizes a state lottery. [86.101]
1978
- March 31
- In Canada, Loto Canada ends its first full fiscal year. Ticket sales: CDN$225 million, prize payouts: $78 million, profit: $74 million, payment to Olympic debt: $56 million. [40.14]
- (month unknown)
- New Jersey becomes the second US state to legalize casino gambling, restricted only to Atlantic City. [39]
- May 26
- Atlantic City, New Jersey, opens its first gambling casino, run by Resorts International. [1] [39] [86.73]
- September
- In Canada, Quebec joins the Interprovincial Lottery Corporation. [40.20]
- November
- In Canada, the Maritime provinces join the Interprovincial Lottery Corporation. [40.20]
1979
- April
- In Canada, the Ontario Lottery Corporation draws a CDN$1.3 million winner in its Lottario lottery. [40.78]
- (month unknown)
- In Florida, the Seminole Indian tribe opens a high stakes bingo parlor. [39]
- July
- The British Gaming Board refuses to renew the licenses of three casinos operated by the Ladbroke Group. [86.160]
- October
- Playboy Limited of England acquires Victoria Cporting club, two other casinos, and sixty betting shops for US$13 million. [86.182]
- November 3
- British Gaming Board inspectors and over 400 police raid four casinos operated by Coral Leisure Group in London, England. [86.161]
- December
- London Metropolitan Police and the British Gaming Board commence proceedings to cancel the gaming license of Victoria Sporting Club for various illegal practices. [86.160]
- Three London casinos of the Ladbroke Group are closed. [86.160]
- December 28
- In Canada, the last Loto Canada lottery draw is held, as the federal government agrees to leave lotteries to the provinces. [40.20]
1980
- April 24
- The Pennsylvania Lottery is rigged by six men including the host of the live TV drawing, Nick Perry. [120]
- (month unknown)
- Hollywood Park racetrack in Southern California introduces a "Pick 6" wager in which bettors select the winning horses in six consecutive races. [86.87]
- Playboy Limited re-opens the Victoria Sporting Club casino in London, England. [86.183]
- July 1
- The US federal revenue tax on gaming devices is repealed. [87.204]
1981
- March
- International Sporting Club, Palm Beach, and the Curzon casinos in London, England, all close. [86.183]
- May
- David Zarin is charged with 93 counts of theft by deception from Resorts International casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey, related to gambling debts. [86.138]
- June
- International Sporting Club, and Palm Beach casinos in London, England, re-open. [86.183]
- (month unknown)
- Arizona authorizes a state lottery. [86.101]
- July
- North Dakota legalizes charitable and non-profit blackjack. [86.48]
- November
- Playboy Limited in England announces the sale of its British gambling operations to Trident Television Limited for US$34 million. [86.161]
1982
- January
- Trident Television pays US$26 million for Playboy Limited's British gambling properties. [86.184]
- Scandal in the Pennsylvania lottery: some balls injected with fluid to make them heavier and more likely to be chosen. [39]
- February
- The Clermont and the Playboy Club of London casinos in London, England, close. [86.161]
- April
- Colorado state authorizes a state lottery. [86.101,231]
- June
- In Canada, the Interprovincial Lottery Corporation introduces the Lotto 6/49 lottery. [40.20]
- July 13
- In Canada, the Interprovincial Lottery Corporation launches the Super Loto lottery game, with top prize CDN$1 million. [40.42]
- August 23
- Washington, D.C., begins a lottery. [86.231]
- September
- Attorney general of Vermont rules that video gaming devices are beyond the authority of the Lottery Commission to operate. [86.60]
- November 15
- Washington State Lottery is established. [86.65,231]
- November
- Minnesota and Oklahoma legislatures authorize pari-mutuel horse racing betting operations. [86.94]
- December
- Donald Bakley wins over US$4 million on six numbers chosen in the New Jersey state lottery. [86.200]
- Year
- In the USA, total bingo wagering estimated at US3 billion. [86.48]
- Total legal gambling in the USA: US$125 billion. [86.54]
- Gross income from gaming in Nevada: US$2.7 billion. [86.81]
1983
- January
- Colorado state begins offering its state lottery. [86.231]
- March 1
- New Jersey Governor Thomas Kean signs bill into law prohibiting use of video gaming devices by New Jersey State Lottery Commission. [86.60]
- One US$2 ticket wins US$988,326 for the correct six winners of Jai Alai in the Jai Alai Fronton in West Palm Beach, Florida. [86.88]
- March
- Art Schlichter, quarterback for NFL's Baltimore Colts, admits to losing over US$750,000 gambling on professional football games. [86.138]
- March 31
- Total sales of the New York State Lottery over the past twelve months: US$645 million, generating revenue of US$359 million. [86.61]
- June
- California Horse Racing Board allows Hollywood Park racecourse to carry over a "Pick 6" pool to the next day if there are no winners. [86.87]
- Iowa legislature authorizes pari-mutuel horse racing betting operations. [86.94]
- (month unknown)
- The NFL suspends Art Schlichter for betting on professional football games. [86.138]
- July 16
- Washington State Governor john Spellman signs a bill establishing the Washington State Lottery, authorizing video lottery devices. [86.60]
- August
- Lions Club of Fort Calhoun, Nebraska, install the first legal video lottery devices in the USA. [86.60]
- September 9
- Vitas Gerulatis bets his house that Martina Navratilova can't beat the 100th ranked male tennis player. [1]
- December 22
- The national lottery of Spain awards US$73 million as first prize, paying to 46 ticket holders with number 53288. [86.102]
- Year
- Total betting in the USA: US$163 billion. [86.1,224]
- In the USA, an estimated US$2.2 billion is raised in State government lottery income, from ticket sales of US$5.6 billion. [86.67,131,224]
- In the USA, total casino gaming income: US$107.5 billion. [86.224]
- In the USA, total pari-mutuel gaming income: US$14.6 billion. [86.224]
- In the USA, total bingo gaming income: US$3.1 billion. [86.224]
- Gross income from casino gaming in Atlantic City, New Jersey: US$1.77 billion. [86.83,147]
1984
- January 14
- In Canada, Lotto 6/49 lottery draw has a grand prize of CDN$13.9 million won by a single player in Ontario. Winning numbers are 2, 12, 29, 31, 44, 46. This is a Canadian record for a single winner, and a record for a single draw. [40.4,82]
- January 16
- Douglas County District Court Judge Theodore Carlson rules that video lottery devices in Nebraska are legal for use under the lottery law. [86.60]
- March
- Nebraska legislature approves a bill banning all video and mechanical lotteries after January 1, 1985. [86.60]
- The Canadian government introduces the Sports Select Baseball sports pool. [40.20]
- May
- In London, England, the Aspinall Curzon casino opens, formerly called the Curzon. [86.183]
- Four New York residents share a US$22 million lottery prize. [40.8]
- June
- Birmingham, Alabama legislature authorizes pari-mutuel horse racing betting operations. [86.94]
- In the USA, the Massachusetts Megabucks lottery draw sets a record for an unshared win, giving US$15.6 million to one person. [40.8]
- July 26
- In the USA, one New York resident wins US$20 million in the state lottery, a new record for unshared win. [40.8]
- August 1
- Illinois Lottery begins a six-month test of 300 video lottery terminals. [86.61]
- August 16
- Largest harness racing purse (US$2,161,000 - Nihilator wins US$1,080,500). [1]
- September 3
- 28-year-old Chicago resident wins US$40 million in Illinois Lottery Lotto state lottery. [1] [86.41,102]
- September
- The Canadian government abandons the Sports Select lottery, having lost CDN$46 million. [40.65]
- September 30
- In Canada, the final draw of the Sports Select lottery is held. A group of thirteen shares a CDN$4.8 million jackpot. [40.66]
- November 6
- In the USA, voters approve introduction of state lotteries in California, Oregon, Missouri, and West Virginia. Pari-mutuel racing betting is approved in Missouri. Colorado and Arkansas defeat proposed casino introductions. Oregon votes to amend constitution to prohibit casinos. [39] [86.68,101,104]
- November
- Missouri legislature authorizes pari-mutuel horse racing betting operations. [86.94]
- Year
- Lottery ticket sales in Canada: CDN$2.17 billion. [40.1]
- Lottery ticket sales in the USA: almost US$10 billion. [40.8]
- Gross income from casino gaming in Atlantic City, New Jersey: US$1.95 billion. [86.147]
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