Lotteries are government-sponsored games of chance in which people have the chance to win a prize by matching numbers. They are a popular source of revenue for governments and provide a way for people to try their luck at winning big money. These games are regulated by law in many jurisdictions. They can be played both online and in brick-and-mortar establishments, and are often linked to other games of chance such as keno or video lottery terminals. Lotteries are also a key source of funds for many charities.
The first national lottery in the world was started in France in 1642. It was a public lottery called the Loterie de la Tour et du Temple, and it had a fixed amount of prizes. It was a very popular game, and the top prize could be more than 100 times its original investment.
In Canada, the lottery is operated by provincial and territorial governments. Today, Canada has four nationwide lotteries: Lotto 6/49, Lotto Max (which replaced Lotto Super 7 in September 2009), Daily Grand, and Millionaire Life. These lotteries are administered by the Interprovincial Lottery Corporation, a consortium of five regional lottery commissions owned by their respective provincial and territorial governments: Atlantic Lottery Corporation (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island), Loto-Quebec (Quebec), Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (Ontario), Western Canada Lottery Corporation (Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut). The lottery is a significant contributor to public education in the country.
An immigrant to the United States from Laos is sharing a $1.3 billion jackpot prize with a friend, he told reporters Monday at a news conference in Portland, Oregon. Forty-six-year-old Cheng Saephan will take half of the prize with his wife, Duanpen, and give the rest to Laiza Chao of the Portland suburb of Milwaukie. The two friends chipped in $100 to buy a batch of lottery tickets together.
While gambling is illegal in Laos, there are Special Economic Zones where casinos operate legally and where people can play online casino games. The government tries to boost foreign trade by leasing these zones to private business interests.
A caller to RFA’s Lao Service who asked not to be identified said private business interests should not be responsible for the national lottery, because they can’t be trusted to run it fairly. The caller also said the government should resume control of the lottery, because it is a national asset and should be 100 percent managed by the government. The winners’ identities are being kept secret for security reasons. They will receive their payment over 30 years. This is the fourth-largest Powerball jackpot ever announced. This story was adapted for VOA’s Learning English program by Mario Ritter, Jr., with help from Ounkeo Souksavanh.