The number of lotteries around the world continues to grow, and many of them are now available online. The growth of these services has coincided with a decline in government controls over the industry, with private companies able to offer more flexible terms and prizes than state-run operations. However, the legality of such services remains in question in many jurisdictions. This is especially true in the United States, where lottery laws have not kept pace with technological advances.

In the United States, there are a variety of ways to win the Powerball lottery. Players can buy a single ticket, share multiple tickets with family or friends, or purchase an entire series of tickets. Regardless of how they choose to play, Powerball winners must be careful to protect their privacy. The media often speculates about the identity of winners, and some people even try to buy or sell their winning tickets.

Despite these concerns, the popularity of lottery games worldwide has remained high. In fact, according to GTech Corporation, an independent company that administers some of the world’s leading lottery programs, online and instant lottery games account for 70% of total lottery sales. Many of these games have the look and feel of traditional lottery games, but are available for a fraction of the cost.

While some governments have banned the sale of lotteries, others have adopted more cautious approaches. For example, in Canada, where buying a lottery ticket was illegal prior to 1967, the federal Liberal government introduced an Omnibus Bill that year to bring up-to-date a number of outdated laws. Montreal mayor Jean Drapeau, in an attempt to recoup some of the money spent on the World’s Fair and a subway system, launched his own “voluntary tax”, offering a prize of $100,000 for a $2.00 “donation”. Drapeau was careful to differentiate his scheme from a true lottery for two reasons: participants would receive silver bars instead of cash and the winners would have to answer four questions about the city to win.

Lotteries in Laos are run by state-owned businesses and organized as a form of public welfare. These companies must pay an annual fee to the government for the license to operate the lottery, but no one inspects their books or business practices. A caller to RFA’s Lao Service who spoke on condition of anonymity complained that the businesses responsible for the lottery also benefit from connections to the country’s ruling elite. He hoped that the national lottery could be returned to government control.