Lottery winners have come from a variety of backgrounds, but they share a common desire: to make their lives better. They have used their winnings to support charitable causes, pay off debts, buy new cars, and give back to their communities. But there are some lottery winners who haven’t used their money wisely or have spent it all on gambling.
While most state governments prohibit the sale of online lottery games, some allow private companies to sell such games and collect a percentage of the proceeds. These firms can charge higher than the base price of a lottery ticket, but they must comply with all state gaming laws. One company that has grown to be the largest player in the online lottery market is GTech Corporation, headquartered in West Greenwich, Rhode Island. The firm oversees 70% of the worldwide online lottery business.
The Oregon Powerball winner is a 46-year-old man named Cheng Saephan, who immigrated to the United States in 2004 as part of a refugee rescue program. He now lives in the Portland suburb of Milwaukie, where he owns several businesses. He said he will split the prize with his wife and a friend. The winning ticket was bought at a Plaid Pantry convenience store. The official announcement of the prize—which reportedly totaled $1.3 billion after taxes—was made April 27 at a news conference in downtown Portland.
Although the idea of a national lottery is rooted in the 18th century, Canada’s first lottery was not held until 1967. That year the federal Liberal government introduced an Omnibus Bill to update old laws, including a provision concerning lotteries. That same year Montreal mayor Jean Drapeau, attempting to recover funds from the World’s Fair and subway system, announced a “voluntary tax.” For a $2.00 “tax” players could enter a drawing for prizes that included silver bars. The Minister of Justice argued that this was a lottery and therefore illegal, but Drapeau defended it by pointing out that the prizes were not cash, and that the contestants were not required to answer all four questions correctly.
In the 1970s, instant scratch-off tickets were introduced and became a major source of lottery revenue. Some jurisdictions also offer keno and video lottery terminals (slot machines in all but name). While gambling is considered illegal in Laos, there are Special Economic Zones where it is legal to operate casinos. These casinos often accept players from Laos and many are based in offshore countries.
The government-backed Lottery in Liechtenstein pioneered Internet gaming, launched the first web lottery in 1995 and processed the first online gaming transaction ever. Today, the ILLF operates multiple websites that combine to offer an extensive selection of games. It also supports charitable projects and organizations domestically and internationally. The ILLF is a member of the World Lottery Association, an international association of lotteries and their suppliers. Its code of conduct is posted on the WLA website. It encourages responsible play and is committed to protecting the integrity of the games and preventing fraud.