Lotteries have been around for centuries, with the first modern European lottery being the French “loterie de l’Hotel de Ville,” established in 1505 or 1506, and then followed by others, including a state lottery in France called the Loterias y Apuestas del Estado that was introduced in 1994. The prize structure of lotteries often attracts a large audience, with payouts varying from small prizes to substantial sums of money. Some countries have banned gambling, while others endorse it as a way of encouraging social participation and boosting local economy.
Lottery results are broadcast live and participants anxiously cross-reference their entries with the official numbers, hoping to win a significant prize. The yearly Christmas lottery in Spain, for example, offers up to EUR2.4 billion worth of prizes and is regulated by the Gambling Commission. Its prize pool is one of the largest in the world. Earlier this year, a British man was left out in the cold when his stolen credit card was used to buy a lottery ticket in England.
The annual Canadian lottery is run by the Interprovincial Lottery Corporation, a consortium of five provincial/territorial lottery commissions: Atlantic Lottery Corporation (New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador), Loto-Quebec (Quebec), Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (Ontario), Western Canada Lottery Corporation (Manitoba, Saskatchewan), and Manitoba Liquor Control Board. These provincial/territorial lottery corporations are responsible for the administration of four nationwide lotteries: Lotto 6/49, Lotto Max, and Daily Grand. In addition, the Interprovincial Lottery Corporation operates two additional nationwide games: Quebecor and Millionaire Life.
In the past, Montreal Mayor Jean Drapeau defended his “voluntary tax” as a form of lottery, saying that for a $2.00 donation, players could participate in a draw with a $100,000 prize, and the money would be awarded to winners in the form of silver bars rather than cash. Although the Quebec Court of Appeals has ruled that this “tax” is not a lottery, the city continues to fight the ruling in higher courts.
In New Zealand, the national lottery is operated by an autonomous Crown entity known as Lotto New Zealand. Lottery profits are distributed by the Lottery Grants Board to a range of community organizations, such as Sport and Recreation New Zealand, Creative New Zealand and the New Zealand Film Commission. The Lottery New Zealand website offers a variety of online and mobile betting options, including Lotto, Keno, Instant Kiwi scratch card games, and more. The site also features a live streaming option for the Lotto and Keno draws. Its games are available in English, Chinese, and Vietnamese languages. Lottery winnings are not subject to income tax in New Zealand. New Zealanders can also purchase tickets online at participating retailers. The Lottery New Zealand website offers an extensive selection of international lottery products as well. It is available in multiple languages and can be accessed from any computer, smartphone, or tablet with an Internet connection. New Zealand residents can also play the lottery in person at many licensed premises throughout the country.