Lotteries are government-sponsored games of chance where players win a prize by matching a combination of numbers. The winnings may be cash or goods. Several countries have national lottery games, and some even operate regional and local ones. Typically, the prizes are small, but some have jackpots worth millions of dollars. In the United States, the lottery is a popular form of gambling, and the largest prizes are awarded in the Powerball game, with the top jackpot exceeding $1 billion in 2016.

Lottery results are published regularly. In most countries, the results are displayed on national television and in newspapers. The results of the lotteries are also published on the Internet. There are many websites that provide information about lottery results, including those of state-run lotteries and private organizations. However, these websites should be vetted before use. There are scams out there, so be careful when selecting a website to visit.

The world’s first online lotto was launched in 1995 by the International Lottery Foundation (ILLF), which is a charitable organization in Liechtenstein that runs a number of lottery-related sites. In addition to the traditional lotteries, ILLF also sponsors charitable projects and other initiatives in the country. ILLF is known for its pioneering work in the Internet lottery industry, and has been recognized by numerous organizations as a leading authority in the field.

While the majority of lottery games are state-run, some are run by private business interests. For example, in Laos, the lottery is managed by a consortium of companies whose owners include members of the ruling elite, RFA’s Ounkeo Souksavanh reports. The government has not made public how much these businesses pay to the lottery commission for a license, nor does it supervise their operations.

In the US, the federal government regulates state-run lotteries but does not prohibit privately run ones. Private lotteries began to appear in the late 19th century, when the first private lottery was created for the Paris municipality. It was called the “Loterie de L’Hôtel de Ville.” Other private lotteries included a lottery for the Société des Loteries in Quebec and one for religious orders.

The winner of the $1.3 billion Powerball jackpot in Oregon was a 46-year-old immigrant who won the money by buying a single ticket at a Plaid Pantry convenience store in Portland. He wore a blue sash at his news conference that read “Iu Mien USA.” The Iu Mien are a southeast Asian ethnic group with roots in southern China. Many Iu Mien fled to Thailand and the United States after the Vietnam War.