Lotteries are government-sponsored games of chance that award prizes based on the numbers drawn. They are usually run by state or local governments, though some are private or corporate enterprises. The prize money in the United States is generally used to support public education systems. Other uses include disaster relief and sports stadium construction. Lottery games are also popular in other countries, with many having state or national lottery corporations and multiple local distributors. Some have also developed instant scratch-off games, video lottery terminals and keno.

The first modern lotteries were held in Europe in the 16th century, followed by those in North America and Asia. In the early 20th century, the lottery became a major source of revenue for US cities and states. In the 1970s, instant games became very popular with players, as were computerized games and the use of digitized tickets. In the 1990s, the Internet greatly expanded the availability of lotteries and instant games. Today, lottery games are offered in dozens of languages and currencies around the world.

In New Zealand, the state-owned Crown entity Lotto New Zealand operates the country’s national lotteries. The profits from these lotteries are distributed to charities and community organizations by the Lottery Grants Board, which is a statutory authority of the Government. This entity has four games: the Lotto, Powerball, Strike and Instant Kiwi.

While state-run lotteries are the primary source of revenue for most jurisdictions, there is a growing trend toward privatized lotteries, with several large companies now offering global online lotteries. This trend is driven in part by the increasing popularity of instant games, which have lower costs than traditional lotteries. In addition, the Internet has made it possible for companies to offer lottery services without the overhead of running a physical office.

As a result, more and more states are licensing private operators to operate state-run lotteries. Some are even allowing private operators to sell their games online and in stores. Currently, there are more than 50 state-licensed companies selling online lotteries in the United States, with the leading providers being GTech Corporation and Scientific Games. The latter company is also the largest provider of instant games in the United States. GTech is headquartered in West Greenwich, Rhode Island and administers 70% of the worldwide online lotteries business. In addition, the company offers software for electronic ticket machines and is a leading supplier of instant-win games and other lottery products. Its products are sold in more than 60 countries. The company is a member of the Association of Private Sector Lottery Operators (APSLO). The APSLO is an international trade association that provides common standards for the industry.