Lotteries are a form of gambling in which a prize is offered for the correct prediction of numbers drawn in a random drawing. The prizes can range from cash to goods or services. The lottery industry has grown to become one of the most profitable sectors in many countries. It is also an important source of income for governments. In the United States, the most popular type of lottery is state-based and operated by a public body or commission. Other types of lotteries are run by private organizations, such as charitable and religious groups. The United Kingdom operates national and regional lotteries, while France has a national and several provincial lotteries.
The history of lotteries dates back to the early 16th century, when a French royal decree established the first official lotteries. These were conducted by the Paris city council (Loterie de la Louvre) and by private individuals for a number of purposes, including raising funds for religious institutions. In the 17th and 18th centuries, a number of royal decrees allowed the establishment of public and private lotteries in cities throughout Europe.
During the late 20th century, Internet technology helped fuel a growth in online lotteries. The first e-commerce websites enabled players to purchase tickets over the Internet and to instantly see their winning numbers after the drawing. In addition to selling lottery products over the Web, a number of companies now offer interactive games and virtual slot machines.
In Canada, the sale of lotteries is regulated by provincial and territorial laws. Prior to 1967, buying a lottery ticket was illegal. In that year the Liberal government of Pierre Trudeau introduced a special law (an Omnibus Bill) to modernize outdated legislation, and this included an amendment permitting lotteries. Today, Canada has four nationwide lotteries: Lotto 6/49, Lotto Max (which replaced Lotto Super 7 in September 2009), Daily Grand and Millionaire Life.
The National Lottery is the most popular of these, with a total prize pool of around £4.3 billion per annum. The jackpot can reach £105 million, and the winnings are tax-free. The proceeds from the lottery are used to support a wide variety of causes and projects, both domestically and internationally.
In the case of a multi-million dollar jackpot, the winnings are split with a partner, in this case with a friend. Cheng Saephan, a 46-year-old immigrant from the southeast Asian country of Laos, will split his Powerball winnings of $1.3 billion with a friend. He wore a sash at his news conference that identified him as an Iu Mien, a southeast Asian ethnic group whose members fled from Laos to Thailand and then immigrated to the United States after the Vietnam War.