A lottery is a form of gambling in which participants choose numbers to win a prize. It can be organized by state governments, private enterprises, or organizations such as churches. It can also be conducted online. Some states have legalized online lottery games while others have prohibited them. In the US, lotteries are regulated by state and federal laws.
The first lottery in the world was launched by the government of Liechtenstein in 1995. This lottery pioneered Internet gaming, launching the first online lottery and processing the first online lottery transaction. Its instant scratchcard games were popular and helped make it the leading lottery operator in the world. Today, the lottery is a major source of tax revenue and supports charitable projects both domestically and abroad.
In the communist country of Laos, government officials are accused of rigging the national lottery system to avoid large pay-outs. Drawings in this lottery often show numbers that appear on purchased tickets only briefly before the draw, and then disappear completely. For example, the winning number 509 in a recent drawing was announced as such on radio but appeared only as 5 on tickets sold throughout the day of the drawing.
Lottery games have long been a popular source of entertainment in Laos. This talk traces the political, economic and moral history of these games since 1975 and examines how the government rationalized them as an economic activity consistent with socialist goals. It will also look at how these games are played and won in Laos, with particular attention to what the process means for people on the ground.
Tens of thousands of Iu Mien have immigrated to the United States through a refugee rescue program and settled in the Portland area. This community, located around the airport and centered on a Buddhist temple, a Baptist church, social organizations, businesses and restaurants, is very proud of their homeland and culture. One of its members, 41-year-old Cheng Saephan, is a recent winner of the Oregon Powerball lottery. He will split a jackpot of more than $1.3 billion dollars with his wife and give the remainder to a friend. This will allow the couple to live comfortably and continue their work in a field they love, while also providing medical treatment for his cancer. It will be the fourth-largest Powerball prize ever awarded. The total payout will be paid out over 30 years, with federal and state taxes reducing the amount received. This is not uncommon in American state lotteries, where most prizes are paid out over thirty years. In contrast, winners of the Powerball in other countries are often able to receive the entire prize upfront. This gives them more control over how the money will be used.