Lottery Online
In many countries, lottery games are regulated by law. In the United States, state and local governments oversee the lotteries. In addition, there are independent lotteries operated by private businesses. Many of these are based on the Internet and accept players from around the world. In Europe, national governments oversee the public lotteries, while others license independent operators.
The number of people participating in the lottery has increased over the past decade, as more and more of them use the Internet to play. This has led to a rapid rise in online lotteries. A growing number of these offer prizes ranging from cash and electronics to vacations, cars, and sports team drafts. Some even offer free tickets and cash. In some cases, the winners are awarded jackpots, such as the recent $1.3 billion dollar winner in Oregon.
Many states prohibit the sale of lotto tickets over the phone or online, but they may allow players to purchase them from retail outlets. Some states also allow players to buy tickets via mail or at government-owned agencies. The lottery is a popular way to raise money for public projects, such as school facilities and highways. The prize money is usually matched by the federal government, and some states have used it to finance their public education systems.
A Lao immigrant who won a massive Powerball jackpot in Oregon this month will split the $422 million prize money with a friend. Cheng Saephan said he would take half the money for himself and his wife, Duanpen, and give the rest to a friend, who chipped in $100 to buy tickets with them. The victory has brought attention to the Iu Mien, a group of refugees who fled to the West Coast after the Vietnam War. The community has a Buddhist temple, a Baptist church, and several social organizations and businesses.
Lottery Online
A Lao state official speaking on condition of anonymity told RFA’s Lao Service that the majority of business interests responsible for running the national lottery include persons with close ties to the country’s ruling elite. “The drawing results are rigged,” he said. “Many numbers disappear from purchased tickets, while others are deemed unlucky and not chosen.” Moreover, winning numbers are often changed only minutes before the drawing is held. For example, on Oct. 14 this year, a radio station first announced the winning number as 509, but then quickly changed it to 662, he added.