Alongside the lotteries there were also inexpensive ÒpolicyÓ games and private raffles. Some of these consisted of merchants who offered raffle tickets providing a chance at winning merchandise as prizes in the same way modern companies hold drawings as a way to promote themselves. Policy games originated in English lottery shops in the 1700Õs as a sideline game that could lure pennies from the poor people who could not afford the more expensive lottery tickets. Copyright Rose & Pentagram Design, all rights reserved.