The origins of lotteries can be traced back centuries ago. In the Old Testament, Moses was instructed to take a census of the people of Israel and then divide the land among them. Meanwhile, Roman emperors reportedly used lotteries to give away property and slaves. Lotteries were later brought to the United States by British colonists. The initial reaction was mainly negative, particularly among Christians, with ten states banning them between 1844 to 1859.