The lottery is a form of gambling that involves drawing numbers to determine the winner. It is a popular form of recreation in the United States, with games operated by state governments and private corporations. The prize money for the winning numbers can be substantial, but players must follow the laws of their jurisdiction in order to participate.
While some governments prohibit the playing of the lottery, others endorse it as a means of raising funds for public goods or social programs. In the United States, the most common method of lotteries is through instant tickets (also known as scratch-off tickets). Some people also play keno or video lottery terminals, which are similar to slot machines. These games are a major source of revenue for many states, and they are growing in popularity around the world.
A Laotian immigrant living in Portland, Oregon, will share hundreds of millions of dollars with a friend after winning a Powerball lottery jackpot prize last week. Cheng Saephan and his wife, Duanpen, will each receive half of the $1.3 billion winnings. The couple will donate the other half to a friend who helped them win. Saephan is a member of the Iu Mien ethnic group, which served as guerrillas in the Vietnam war and fled to Thailand before the conflict ended.
Canada has four nationwide lotteries: Lotto 6/49, Lotto Max (which replaced Lotto Super 7 in September 2009), Daily Grand and Millionaire Life. These are administered by the Interprovincial Lottery Corporation, a consortium of provincial and territorial lottery commissions owned by their respective provincial and territorial governments: Atlantic Lottery Corporation (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island), Loto-Quebec (Quebec), Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (Ontario) and Western Canada Lottery Corporation (Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut).
The history of the lottery is rooted in ancient times, when prizes were awarded for events that were uncertain or difficult to measure. In the 16th century, lotteries became a popular way to raise funds for religious and civic projects. They eventually became more common, and by the 19th century had morphed into a popular pastime.
During the communist period, lotteries were rationalized as an economic activity that was consistent with socialist goals. This talk, by linguistic anthropologist Charles Zuckerman, will explore the political, moral and cultural dimensions of these activities in Luang Prabang where Zuckerman conducted ethnographic research between 2013-2016.
In addition to discussing the politics of lotteries in the Laotian context, Zuckerman will explore the mechanics of these operations and the many ways that people use them as a means of expression and social connection.