Lotteries are government-authorized games of chance where a prize is awarded to the winner. They are a common source of public funding in many countries. Some governments regulate them, while others prohibit them or limit them in some way. In the United States, winning a lottery can mean thousands of dollars. However, a winning lottery ticket must be claimed by the owner or his or her designee before the prize can be distributed. The earliest known lottery dates back to the 15th century, and was created by Pope Leo X in or around 1505 for the city of Rome. Several different types of lotteries are now in operation around the world, including state and municipal ones, charity ones, and private ones for business purposes. In addition, many governments have legalized gambling through casinos and other facilities, allowing players to place bets on the results of these games.
In Canada, the first lottery was launched in 1967, with Montreal Mayor Jean Drapeau creating a “voluntary tax”. For a $2.00 “tax” players could enter a draw for a silver bar that would be melted to determine its value. Despite being labeled a lottery, this scheme was not legal because the government’s minister of justice argued that it contravened federal law. However, the monthly draws went ahead, drawing participants from across Canada and Europe.
The first Internet lottery was introduced in 1995 by the International Lottery in Liechtenstein Foundation (ILLF), which marketed a number of lotto-related websites under the brand name PLUS. The company was the first to offer instant scratch-off games on the Internet and processed the very first online lottery transaction. Its sites now process over 70% of the world’s online lottery transactions.
The winner of the Oregon Powerball jackpot announced on Monday will share hundreds of millions of dollars with a friend. Forty-six-year-old Cheng Saephan of Portland is a member of the Iu Mien ethnic group, which came to the U.S. through a refugee program after the Vietnam War. He said he and his wife, Duanpen, will take half the prize money; the rest will go to a friend who chipped in $100 to buy a batch of tickets with them. The couple bought the winning tickets at a Plaid Pantry convenience store in early April. The couple lives in Milwaukie, a west-central suburb of Portland. They plan to use some of the money to help pay for his ongoing cancer treatment. The rest will be invested in property and business ventures, Saephan said. He and his wife are also considering starting a restaurant. The winner must wait 30 years to receive the full amount of the prize, although he or she can choose to take a lump sum that is lower than the total.