Lotteries are a form of gambling in which people are able to win money or goods. These are usually conducted by a government and the profits are used to fund public services such as education. They can also be used for sport, entertainment or other purposes. Some governments use their profits to boost the economy and promote tourism. Others use them to improve social welfare programs. Lotteries are legal in most countries but have varying laws regarding their operations.
Online lottery games are a popular way to gamble and there are many different options available. These include traditional state-run lotteries and privately run online casinos that offer various types of games. Some of these games are based on traditional sports like horse racing and poker while others are themed after film, music and other popular genres. These sites offer free and real money lottery games and can be played in multiple languages. Some of these sites are licensed by the state and have a high level of security to protect players’ information.
In Canada, the government runs the national lottery through an autonomous Crown entity, Lotto New Zealand (formerly Lotteries Commission). The organization distributes the majority of its proceeds to charities and community organizations domestically and internationally. The organization operates several websites and sells tickets through authorized re-sellers. In addition, it pioneered the Internet lottery by launching the first online lottery website PLUS Lotto in 1995 and processing the first Internet gaming transaction.
Cheng Saephan, a 46-year-old immigrant from Laos who won the Powerball lottery jackpot of $1.3 billion in Oregon earlier this year, has spoken publicly about his good fortune. He and his wife, Duanpen, will take half of the prize and give the rest to a friend, Laiza Chao, who chipped in $100 to buy the winning tickets with them.
At a news conference, Saephan wore a sash that identified him as an Iu Mien, a southeast Asian ethnic group with roots in southern China. Thousands of Iu Mien fled from Laos to Thailand and then resettled in the United States after the Vietnam War. They have a vibrant community in Portland, which includes a Buddhist temple, a Baptist church and several businesses.
The winning ticket was purchased at a Plaid Pantry convenience store in the Portland suburb of Milwaukie. Saephan said he has no plans to quit his job at a trucking company and that he will continue to play the lottery when he can. He was diagnosed with cancer in 2016 and has been receiving chemotherapy treatment ever since.
Gambling is illegal in the communist nation of Laos, but there are Special Economic Zones where casino-style games can be legally operated. But lottery officials have been accused of rigging the system in order to avoid large pay-outs, a source in the capital Vientiane told RFA’s Lao Service. For example, the number 509 disappeared from tickets purchased throughout the day of a drawing in October after a lot of people wanted to pick it, the source said.