The lottery is a form of gambling in which numbers are drawn to win a prize. The prize money may be a cash amount or goods. Many state governments run lotteries to raise funds for various projects. The profits are often used to fund public education. Lottery games are also popular in some countries as a way to boost tourism. The prizes offered by these games vary from a trip to a city to a sports team or a cruise ship. The winner is usually announced in a ceremony after the drawing.
During the first half of the 20th century, there was a great deal of debate about whether or not lotteries were legal. However, the practice became increasingly common in dark urban areas, where it provided a much-needed source of income for those living in poverty. Private lotteries also began to appear in the US.
In 1967, the federal Liberal government introduced a special law (an Omnibus Bill) that was intended to bring up-to-date a number of obsolete laws, including those concerning lotteries. The bill was sponsored by Pierre Trudeau, the Minister of Justice. Montreal Mayor Jean Drapeau, seeking to recover the cost of his World’s Fair and subway system, decided to organize a “voluntary tax” in which players would pay $2.00 for the opportunity to participate in a monthly draw with a grand prize of $100,000. Although Drapeau claimed that his “tax” was not a lottery, the Minister of Justice argued that it violated federal law because it did not provide sufficient information about the game to make it clear to players that it was a lottery.
On the basis of this argument, the Quebec Appeal Court declared Drapeau’s “tax” to be illegal. But despite the legal battle, the monthly draws went off without a hitch. Players from across Canada and from Europe and Asia participated.
During his research in Luang Prabang, researcher Dr Charles Zuckerman discovered that the lottery was more than just an economic activity for the people of Laos. It had many social and moral implications. In this talk he will explore the many things that playing, choosing numbers and winning meant for people on the ground. He will also explore the ways in which the Lao government has attempted to rationalize the lottery as an economic activity that is coherent with socialist goals.