Lotteries are games of chance in which numbers are drawn to win a prize. They are usually conducted by governments or state-controlled organizations. In addition, many private companies have entered the lottery business by creating online versions of their games. These are sometimes called instant or scratch-off lottery games. Some of these online lotteries are run by government-licensed re-sellers, while others are operated by independent companies. These companies typically charge a premium above the base lottery ticket price.

Lottery-style games of chance have existed for centuries. During the Renaissance, a number of European countries established private lotteries to raise funds for public works. In the United States, early lotteries were often played at fairs and public events. After the Civil War, lottery sales grew rapidly and were often controlled by law enforcement officials.

By the 20th century, most US states had regulated lottery sales. However, the federal government did not regulate state lotteries until the 1970s. This allowed a number of new operators to enter the market, offering products such as lottery tickets, instant games, and keno machines. These products have become an important source of revenue for state governments.

While the Internet has brought many benefits, it has also introduced new forms of gambling that violate state laws. While traditional state-run lotteries have strict regulations to prevent fraud, Internet gaming sites have looser rules and are not subject to the same scrutiny as land-based casinos. GTech Corporation, based in West Greenwich, Rhode Island, claims to administer 70% of the worldwide online lottery business.

In Canada, the national lottery is operated by the Interprovincial Lottery Corporation, a consortium of provincial and territorial lotteries: Atlantic Lottery Corporation (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island), Loto-Quebec (Quebec), Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (Ontario), Western Canada Lottery Corporation (Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, Yukon Territory, Northwest Territories), and British Columbia Lottery Corporation (British Columbia). The corporation’s games include the Lotto 6/49, Lotto Max, and Daily Grand.

Laotian immigrant Cheng Saephan won a multimillion-dollar lottery jackpot on Oct. 14 and will split the winnings with a friend. Saephan and his wife, Duanpen, plan to use half of the money for their children’s education and to help a fellow Iu Mien immigrant who has cancer. The couple is from a group of people from southeast Asia who served American forces in the Vietnam War and fled to Thailand and the United States. They are now permanent residents of Oregon and live in Portland. Several of their family members still live in Laos. Announcing the winnings at a news conference, Saephan said he and his friend will buy tickets together in future. He urged other Iu Mien immigrants to do the same. He also vowed to continue his battle with cancer.