PORTLAND, Oregon — A Laotian immigrant who won a $1.3 billion prize in the Powerball lottery has promised to share his winnings with a friend. Forty-six-year-old Cheng Saephan wore a wide smile and a bright blue sash emblazoned with the words “Iu Mien USA” as he posed for news photos. His big win has raised awareness about the Iu Mien community in western Oregon, where he and his wife live. The Portland area has a large Iu Mien community, with a Buddhist temple, a Baptist church, social organizations and businesses.
The winner is expected to be announced later this week, after the lottery has completed a security and vetting process. According to Oregon law, winners must be publicly identified with a few exceptions. The prize is said to be the fourth-largest in Powerball history. The winner can choose a lump sum payment or take out the money over 30 years.
In the United States, state governments run lotteries. Some also operate national lotteries in partnership with private companies. Many states also have public education lotteries to help fund schools. The largest state-run lotteries are in California, Massachusetts, New York, and Texas.
While the majority of state-run lotteries operate in brick-and-mortar shops, some have shifted their business models to online. This allows them to reach a wider audience while still charging the same amount for tickets. In addition, online lotteries can offer more prizes and have lower operating costs. This shift has led to an increase in popularity for these types of games, despite concerns about the legality of online gambling and the ability to trace players.
The online lottery industry has become a highly profitable enterprise, with GTech Corporation administering 70% of worldwide lottery services, reports the website eGamblingInsider. The company offers an array of lottery-style games, including instant scratch-offs and interactive games. In addition, it has partnered with gaming software providers to create virtual versions of traditional land-based casinos and sportsbooks.
Some people are also taking advantage of the Internet to sell and purchase lottery tickets without the government’s permission. The practice is known as “illegal lottery,” and it is difficult to regulate because most of it takes place on the Internet, where authorities have limited control. This type of activity is particularly dangerous for young people, and it has contributed to a rise in the number of teen suicides across the country.
Unlike traditional lotteries, which are run by governments or private companies, illegal online lotteries are often operated by individuals who use fake IDs and other aliases to disguise their identities. They are also often run from remote locations and charge high commissions to buyers. In some cases, they even steal credit card information from unsuspecting customers.
The legality of lotteries is a complex issue, but some states have adopted laws that protect their integrity and consumer safety. In Canada, lotteries are regulated by provincial/territorial governments. Prior to 1967, buying a ticket on the Irish sweepstakes was illegal in Canada, but Pierre Trudeau’s Liberal government introduced an Omnibus Bill that allowed provinces and territories to run their own lottery systems.