Lotteries are government-sponsored games in which numbers are drawn to determine a winner. Prizes can range from a few dollars to large sums of money, and are often used to fund public projects. They have been criticized for increasing gambling addiction and social problems, but they remain popular with many people. The lottery industry is a major source of income in many countries, and is growing rapidly. It is estimated that the world’s population will double by 2050, and demand for the games will rise accordingly.
The Maryland Lottery supports responsible play and urges all players to be aware of the risks involved. All prizes must be claimed within 180 days of the draw date. The lottery does not pay winnings if the claim form is not submitted on time or the prize is disputed. The lottery also encourages responsible use of its products, and discourages minors from playing its games. For more information, click here
In Canada, lotteries are operated by a provincial/territorial lottery corporation, a consortium of five regional lotteries owned by their respective governments: Atlantic Lottery Corporation (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador), Loto-Quebec (Quebec), Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (Ontario), Western Canada Lottery Corporation (Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, Northwest Territories and Nunavut) and the British Columbia Lottery Corporation (British Columbia). The Interprovincial Lottery Corporation oversees these organizations, and they operate a common set of rules. Canada is unique among the world’s lottery markets in that it does not have a national lottery, but instead relies on provincial/territorial lotteries for its revenue.
Lottery officials in the communist country of Laos are rigging the system to avoid paying out large winnings, sources tell RFA’s Lao Service. Drawings for the nation’s national lottery, which are held three times a week, frequently show numbers that vanish from purchased tickets or are deemed unlucky and unlikely to be chosen. For example, the winning number in last month’s drawing, 509, appeared only as a 5 on tickets sold throughout the day of the drawing.
Laotian immigrant Cheng Saephan has made headlines in the United States after winning a $1.3 billion Powerball jackpot, but his victory hasn’t come without its challenges. He and his wife, Duanpen, plan to split the lump-sum payout of $422 million after federal and state taxes. Saephan, who wore a sash at a news conference that identifies him as an Iu Mien, a group of immigrants from the southeast Asian country of Laos who fled to Thailand during the Vietnam War and later settled in Oregon, said they will donate some of the money to charitable projects and family members.
Despite the fact that gambling is illegal in Laos, the online lottery market has grown exponentially since 2008. There are numerous websites offering tickets for foreign-based lotteries and charging premiums on base lottery prices. As a result, many lottery games have become more difficult to regulate and are harder for law enforcement authorities to track. Amid the growing problem, lawmakers have called for more action to control the booming business.