Tobacco, alcohol, and gambling.
These three things share a few common traits.
They negatively impact a person's health, cause them to waste hard-earned money, and are highly addictive.
But their biggest commonality lay elsewhere: countless nations throughout history have tolerated all three.
Even in the 21st century, with advanced science and medical knowledge, many countries permitted them.
Despite being addictive and causing enormous social harm, they were not banned. What was the reason?
For one thing, banning them outright was nearly impossible.
Alcohol, tobacco, and gambling have existed in most societies for a long time, and no matter how powerful a government was, it was hard to stamp them out.
During Prohibition, the United States even used the Coast Guard and naval forces to crack down on bootleggers, but ultimately had to admit defeat.
And there was one more commonality—one that mattered most to me right now.
It is that these three guarantee massive tax revenue for the government.
In many countries during the 18th and 19th centuries, alcohol and tobacco accounted for a large share of tax revenue.
In Russia, vodka solidly filled the tax coffers, and the same was true for countries like Britain, Canada, and Australia.
But the most impressive case was the United States.
At one point, a staggering share of U.S. federal revenue came from alcohol and tobacco taxes.
And there were similarities between the US of that time and Rome now.
Mainly, income tax was practically non-existent, and indirect taxes were woefully insufficient.
Most of Rome's public funds came from provincial tribute and from taxes and tariffs collected by private tax farmers.
The concept of collecting taxes from citizens to run state finances was not only unfamiliar but also something most Romans disliked.
And that was the reason why I started the lottery.
"The Senate should take charge of the lottery."
I looked at the senators.
Not only Cato, but everyone sitting in the chamber looked flustered.
"What on earth do you mean by the Senate taking charge of the lottery?"
"As I told Senator Cato, I arranged the lottery to share my good fortune with the Roman people."
I continued calmly.
"However, as the event progressed, I realized a surprising fact. More Roman citizens were enthusiastic about the lottery than I had anticipated."
"That is only natural. You opened a gambling den, not a charitable event."
I ignored Cato's remark and continued.
"Thanks to this, I was able to earn massive, unexpected revenue. But regardless of my intentions, this was an act that tempted the Roman citizens."
All the senators leaned forward, listening intently to my words.
Yes, they must be curious about what exactly I was trying to propose.
Whatever Cato said, it was clear it wouldn't reach them.
"The lottery brings in massive revenue. Even if the lottery is held only once a week, millions of sesterces circulate. Even after paying the prize money to the winner, an enormous profit remains."
I continued.
"You wouldn't even need to tie it to buying Palmolive. You could simply sell tickets—entry into the draw."
"You would practically be pulling money out of thin air."
One Senator muttered, nodding his head.
He was right.
A lottery, in the end, was a business selling hope.
Buyers pay money simply to participate in the lottery draw.
There's no need to bundle it with a product like Palmolive either.
"Soon, people imitating my lottery will appear all over Rome. It was the same when I first created Palmolive."
"So you're saying we should restrict the sale of lotteries only to authorized individuals, just like with the Trademark Law?"
"Similar, but not quite."
I shook my head.
What I was proposing was entirely different.
"As I have already stated, I believe the Senate should monopolize the lottery trade."
With that, I began to pace the chamber.
If Cato had been the one making all the noise until now, it was my turn to take the initiative.
"If lotteries spread unchecked throughout Rome, the sacred Republic will quickly fall into depravity, just as Senator Cato said. But completely banning it would also be impossible."
Most of the senators nodded, as if agreeing with my argument.
"If so, shouldn't the Senate monopolize the lottery business? The massive profits earned through this could then be used for the people of the Republic."
I said.
"Recently, I announced a support plan for veterans. The soldiers who fought for Rome need help. As you would agree, the Senate does not have a steady stream of tax revenue to support them."
"Lucius Caesar, you are suggesting we use the profits earned through the lottery business for the veterans."
"That is correct."
I nodded at a senator's words.
"By doing so, we can also prevent the veterans' loyalty from being bound to a single man."
By 21st-century standards, this was a very obvious concept.
But it must be shocking to the Romans of today.
Using gambling to collect tax revenue and using it for the state treasury was likely an idea they had never even considered.
Cato, finally realizing that something unusual was happening, raised his voice again.
"Caesar, are you saying our Senate should directly operate a gambling den? We came here to discuss your moral depravity, not to take over a gambling den!"
The chamber began to murmur again.
"Even so, for our Senate to run such business..."
"The young Caesar is right too. It would be impossible to completely ban this thing called a lottery."
With the chamber split in two, I looked at one man.
My purpose for coming to the Senate today was not to fight Cato.
Rather, it was to persuade someone else.
The figure who was the representative of the Senate's moderates.
Rome's finest orator and the representative of the Equestrian class.
"Lucius Caesar's words are correct!"
Cicero rose to his feet.
***
"For far too long, our Republic has neglected the soldiers who risked their lives fighting on the front lines."
As Cicero spoke, all the Senators closed their mouths.
I too remained silent, waiting for his next words.
Most people think there were only two factions in the Roman Senate of this era.
The Populares and the Optimates.
But looking closely, it was actually much more complex.
Many senators were bound to different patronage networks, and most focused only on gaining power for themselves.
Prestigious families tried to elevate the honor of their lineage and relatives, while the Equestrian class strove to expand their authority.
Cicero and Cato.
These two were also difficult to categorize simply as Optimates or Populares.
But Cicero's inclination was as clear as Cato's.
It was to protect the Republic while securing his own honor and profit.
"Esteemed fellow Senators! This Rome is littered with cowards trying to escape their crises through silence and excuses.
But look at Lucius Caesar! Despite having the right to refuse to answer today, he chose sincere repentance over excuses!"
Cicero said, pointing at me.
Instead of answering, I bowed lightly to express my gratitude.
As expected of Cicero.
No one can match Cicero in the ability to judge a situation and in eloquence.
He had clearly grasped the core of my proposal.
"To commit wrongs is the destiny of all mortals, but to bow one's own head before the authority of the Senate and lay bare one's faults is true courage and a rare virtue.
If we still insist on punishment even in the face of such profound reflection, then where does Rome's great tradition of clemency belong? His sincere repentance is exactly what deserves praise!"
Numerous Senators applauded in agreement.
"Dear fellow Senators, the peace of the Republic was protected by the blood and sweat of its citizens, yet we have committed the error of shifting the burden of rewarding them solely onto the commanders.
Lucius Caesar sharing his wealth to help them is a good deed that rightly deserves praise.
However, how can the Senate, the pillar of the Republic, leave everything solely to the mercy of one individual?"
Cicero poured out his words like rapid fire.
As if he would not tolerate anyone else interrupting, his speech continued.
"The fire of the lottery has already been lit, and trying to forcefully extinguish it will only invite a riot. The Roman citizens will think they have been robbed of their chance to become rich!
If so, we must control that fire ourselves!
Let us suppress the danger of gambling with the wisdom of the Senate, and use its massive profits to provide bread for the veterans who protected the Republic with their blood! With such an honorable and beneficial solution before us, what reason do we have to dare hesitate!"
He was doing much better than I expected.
I listened from a seat near the front rows.
A 21st-century historian would have paid millions just to hear Cicero's speech.
I was quite lucky here.
Actually, the reason Cicero was stepping up like that was simple.
It was because the proposal I made benefited the Senate as well.
Until now, Roman legionaries had received no support from the Senate.
They relied solely on their commanders, which led to the phenomenon of the army becoming loyal to individuals rather than the state.
It was a massive trend that began under Marius's military reforms.
In the end, it was the very result that led to the Roman civil wars.
The moderates, including Cicero, surely knew this fact as well.
That was precisely why they had been unwilling to give land to Pompey's veterans.
But what if there was another way?
What if there was a way to collect taxes from Roman citizens and use that to allow the Senate to support the veterans?
It would greatly reduce the instability in Roman society.
That was exactly the hidden message of my proposal.
Cicero caught onto that faster than anyone else.
I didn't come to the Senate today to fight.
I merely came to persuade.
Isn't that the core of politics?
Though it seems there is one person who doesn't understand that.
I turned my head and looked at Cato.
He wore an expression that clearly showed he was full of anger.
What is he thinking right now?
***
This was sheer madness.
Cato muttered internally as he looked around the Senate chamber.
The sacred Senate taking charge of a gambling business.
If the great ancestors of Rome saw this, how lamentable a situation would this be?
Cato saw red. The Mos Maiorum protected with blood and sweat for hundreds of years was collapsing under the clink of coins tossed by a mere boy.
The young Caesar had clearly been on the verge of ruin.
A Patrician who, despite his status, dabbled in a vulgar gambling business and corrupted the Roman citizens.
Most had agreed on the point that the Senate needed to deal with him.
Yet now, all the senators were distracted by the bait Caesar had thrown.
With Pandora's box set before them, Cato was the only one maintaining his sanity.
Cato stared at Caesar, stunned, for a moment.
That brat, not even twenty years old, was watching Cicero and the other Senators debate as if he were enjoying it.
At that moment, Lucius Caesar stood up from his seat and approached him.
While Cato glared at him, the distance between them closed.
"Senator Cato."
"What is it? Do you still have some gambling trick left to tempt the Senate with?"
Despite his sharp response, the young Caesar merely shrugged.
"Since Senator Cicero spoke up, there's something I didn't quite get to finish."
Cato couldn't help being astounded by Caesar's following words.
"I believe you, Senator Cato, should lead the newly established Lottery Commission."