Lottery is a type of gambling where people can win a prize based on a random drawing of numbers. It is a popular form of entertainment, and it can be very lucrative. There are several different types of lotteries, including state and national lotteries, as well as local lotteries. Some of these are operated by government agencies, while others are private companies. Many state governments also use a portion of their lottery proceeds to fund public education systems.
In New Zealand, the government controls the national lottery through an autonomous Crown entity called Lotto New Zealand. The agency distributes the proceeds from the lottery to various community groups, such as Sport and Recreation New Zealand, Creative New Zealand, and the New Zealand Film Commission. It also supports lottery-related online sales with two licensed re-sellers, Netlotto Pty Ltd and Jumbo Interactive.
The number 59 is associated in Laos with the buffalo, which is seen as a symbol of good fortune. Therefore, many people want to pick that number when they buy tickets. But this year, the number has been disappearing from purchased tickets for the national lottery drawing. It was replaced by the number 5, and it only appeared as a 5 on tickets sold throughout the day of the drawing, a source told RFA’s Lao service.
Lao state officials with a stake in the national lottery are rigging the system to avoid large pay-outs, sources say. The government is not transparent about the operations of the lottery, and it is impossible for the public to determine how much money the lottery is making each month. In addition, the winning numbers from the last drawing are sometimes mysteriously changed. For example, on Oct. 14, the winning number 509 popped up as only five on purchased tickets but was later announced on the radio as 134.
Lottery winners in the United States are required to claim their prizes within 30 days of the draw, and must provide proof of identity and age. If they fail to do so, the prize money will be forfeited. Lottery winners are also required to sign a statement of eligibility, which certifies that they meet all the requirements to receive the prize. The Oregon Powerball winner, who was identified as a 46-year-old man from Laos, must sign the statement and provide photo ID before the lottery will release the prize funds.
The winner’s family will take half of the prize money and a friend will get the other half. The man, who was a refugee from war-torn Laos, lives in the Portland suburb of Milwaukie with his wife and daughter. He plans to open a restaurant with his winnings. He will also give some to his brother, who is ill with cancer, and help out his parents. He and his brother are members of the Iu Mien community, a group of ethnic Vietnamese in the Portland area that includes a Buddhist temple, a Baptist church, social organizations, businesses and restaurants.