Lotteries are government-regulated games that distribute money to winners through the distribution of tickets. Some governments outsource the operation of their lotteries to private companies or to state-owned organizations. Others prohibit the sale of lottery tickets, while others sell them directly to the public. The amount of money distributed by lotteries depends on the number of tickets sold and the percentage of profits allocated to winnings. Lotteries can be a source of income for public services and public works projects, as well as for charity.
A few countries have national lotteries that offer a variety of games, including instant scratch-off tickets. These are similar to traditional lotteries in that they are based on the drawing of numbers for prizes, but they usually also include video games and other types of interactive entertainment. These games can be played on a computer, smartphone or tablet. Some of the most popular instant games include Mega Millions, Powerball and the EuroMillions.
New Zealand’s lottery is an autonomous Crown entity that manages the country’s four nationwide games: the Lotto, Keno, Bullseye and Instant Kiwi. Its proceeds are donated to charities and community groups. These include Sport and Recreation New Zealand, Creative New Zealand and the New Zealand Film Commission. Its profits are also shared with local councils. Its most popular game, the Lotto, has a top prize of up to AUD$10 million.
In Canada, lotteries are controlled by the federal government and the provincial and territorial governments. These are Lottery Corporation of Quebec (Quebec), Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (Ontario), Atlantic Lottery Corporation (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador) and Western Canada Lottery Corporation (Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut). Canada also operates a national instant lottery called Canada 6/49 and a provincial lottery known as Lotto Max.
In Liechtenstein, the International Lottery Foundation (ILLF) is a state-controlled charitable organization that pioneered Internet gaming. It launched the world’s first online lottery, PLUS Lotto, in 1995 and processed the first ever Internet gambling transaction. ILLF has since grown to become one of the world’s leading lottery operators, offering more than 30 different games across the globe. The ILLF also supports charitable projects and organizations domestically and internationally. Its operations are overseen by a Board of Directors.