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The sweepstake was established because their was a need for investment in hospitals and medical services and the public finances were unable to meet this expense at the time. As the population of Ireland was unable to raise sufficient funds, because of its low population, a significant amount of the funds were raised in the United Kingdom and United States ; often among the emigrant Irish populations. The winner was determined based on the outcome of several Horse Races ; amongst them, the Cambridgeshire , Derby and Grand National . DEMISE At the time of its inception, lotteries were generally illegal in the United Kingdom and United States. The sweepstakes became very popular in the absence of other readily available lotteries. In the United Kingdom the sweepstakes caused some strain in Anglo-Irish relations, the Betting and Lotteries Act 1934 was passed by the parliament of the United Kingdom in order to prevent export and import of lottery related materials. The United States Congress had outlawed the use of the U.S. Mails for lottery purposes in 1890 . However, a thriving Black Market sprang up for tickets in both jurisdictions. As governments relaxed their attitudes towards this form of Gambling , and indeed went into the lottery business themselves, the sweepstakes declined in popularity. From the 1960s onwards declining revenues became a reality for the sweepstake. The final sweepstake was held in January 1986 and as the company was unsuccessful for a licence bid which was won by ) in unclaimed prizes and interest accrued. REFERENCE
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