Lotteries are government-sponsored games in which players attempt to win a prize based on random chance. They may be operated by state governments, private companies, or public-private partnerships. In addition, they may be legal or illegal depending on the jurisdiction in which they operate. Some countries regulate the operation of lotteries, while others do not. In some cases, lottery profits are used to fund public services such as education. In other cases, lottery proceeds are distributed directly to charities or other organizations. In the United States, lottery revenue is a significant source of federal and state tax revenues.
The first official national lottery was launched in France in 1740. In the 19th century, many other lotteries were established in Europe. In the US, there are several large publicly run lotteries that are operated by state government-licensed operators. In addition, there are some privately owned lottery operations that sell tickets on the Internet.
In the UK, the National Lottery is a multi-channel lottery operated by the Camelot Group. It draws millions of pounds each week and is one of the largest lotteries in the world. The company also operates a European-wide lottery called EuroMillions.
Ticket sales for the national lottery are regulated by the Gambling Commission. It is available online, on television and via telephone. Its top prize/jackpot is around EUR2.4 billion. The UK Lottery is the world’s most popular lottery and its prize pool is larger than that of all other lotteries combined.
The New Zealand Lottery is controlled by the Government through an autonomous Crown entity, Lotto New Zealand (formerly the New Zealand Lotteries Commission). It distributes its allocation of lottery proceeds to a variety of community organizations including Sport and Recreation New Zealand, Creative New Zealand and Golden Kiwi, as well as other community and cultural groups.
There are four nationwide lotteries in Canada: Lotto 6/49, Lotto Max (which replaced Lotto Super 7 in September 2009), Daily Grand and Millionaire Life. They are administered by the Interprovincial Lottery Corporation, a consortium of provincial/territorial lotteries: Atlantic Lottery Corporation (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador), Loto-Quebec (Quebec), Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (Ontario) and Western Canada Lottery Corporation (Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and Manitoba). In addition to these national lottery games, Canadian provinces/territories offer keno and video lottery terminals.
Cheng Saephan wore a bright blue sash emblazoned with “Iu Mien USA” as he stood atop a podium at a news conference announcing his $1.3 billion Powerball jackpot in Oregon this month. His success has raised awareness about the Iu Mien, a southeast Asian ethnic group that fled Laos for Thailand and then settled in the U.S. as refugees after the Vietnam War.
While his luck has made him a multibillionaire, Saephan is still very humble. His dream is to return to his native country and start a business there. He has also vowed to continue to support the Iu Mien community in Portland, which includes a Buddhist temple and a Baptist church as well as many social organizations and businesses.