A lottery is a game of chance wherein players purchase tickets to win a prize. The prizes vary from cash to goods to services. The games are regulated by the state or territory in which they are operated. Lottery games are popular in many countries around the world. Some states have their own lotteries while others contract them out to private companies to operate.
The lottery industry has grown enormously over the years and is a significant source of revenue in many states. Its popularity has increased with the introduction of new games such as instant lottery tickets and video lottery terminals. Increasingly, lottery revenues are being used to fund public education systems.
In addition to the traditional lotteries, there are many online and mobile lottery apps that allow people to play from the comfort of their homes. The lottery has also been a key driver of technological advancements in the computer industry. Lottery games are now available on a variety of platforms including PCs, laptops, smartphones, and tablets. The lottery has also been instrumental in the development of a wide range of e-commerce websites.
There are four nationwide lotteries in Canada: Lotto 6/49, Lotto Max (which replaced Lotto Super 7 in September 2009), Daily Grand, and Millionaire Life. The games are administered by the Interprovincial Lottery Corporation, a consortium of provincial/territorial lottery corporations: Atlantic Lottery Corporation (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador), Loto-Quebec (Quebec), Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (Ontario), and Western Canada Lottery Corporation (Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, Northwest Territories, Yukon, and British Columbia).
A Laotian immigrant has won more than $1.3 billion in the Powerball lottery, which was drawn Monday. Forty-six-year-old Cheng Saephan, a member of the Iu Mien ethnic group that helped American forces in Vietnam during the war, will keep half the money for himself and give the rest to his friend. He purchased the winning ticket at a Plaid Pantry convenience store in Portland.
The winner’s name has not been made public, because of privacy laws in Oregon. But he did attend a news conference. He and his wife plan to move from their current home in Milwaukie, a suburb of Portland. They will share the winnings with Laiza Chao, who chipped in $100 to buy a batch of tickets with them.
A source in Laos told RFA that the business interests behind the lottery have links to the country’s ruling elite. “The majority of these companies… have family members who are part of the nation’s top leadership,” the source said. “So if the government decides to take back control of the lottery, that would help.” RFA’s source spoke on condition of anonymity.