»Lotteriefieber« und legislative Reaktionen: Die Reichsstadt Frankfurt in den 1770er und 1780er Jahren

Abstract

The term »lottery fever« describes an extraordinary spread of lotteries in numerous German territories during the 1770s and 1780s. The most important types of lotteries were class lotteries and number lotteries (lotto), many of which were domiciled in Frankfurt’s neighbouring territories. Initially, the Frankfurt City Council saw no need to restrict the emerging lottery market, probably because the dangers of the volatile number lotteries that scored points with low stakes and astronomical profit expectations were underestimated. They mainly attracted poorer city dwellers. The city of Frankfurt even tried to set up a number lottery of its own. The first regulation of number lotteries in 1772 was meant to ensure regular concessions for charitable foundations from the lottery companies. However, concessions were only paid sporadically. In addition, number lotteries had proven to be lucrative for surrounding territories. Thus, cut- throat territorial battles developed using lotteries, with the city council loosing influence. The imperial city of Frankfurt thus became a pawn in the financial interests of the surrounding territories. An unsuccessful ban on betting in 1779 was therefore followed in 1780 by a complete ban on number lotteries, which also failed to achieve exclusion. The ban was circumvented by resourceful lottery collectors using extraterritorial areas within Frankfurt. Only through the intervention of external factors, which led to the end of number lotteries outside Frankfurt, could this chapter be closed for the city council.

Keywords

• lotteries
• legislation
• policing
• early modern age
• gambling