Lotteries are government-regulated games in which participants purchase a ticket with the hope of winning a prize, such as cash or goods. The prize may be an entire jackpot or a smaller amount of money paid out over time in several draws. Some governments regulate the operation of national or provincial lotteries, while others leave the industry to private businesses.
In the United States, state-regulated lotteries are legal in most states and the District of Columbia. Private lotteries are also common in many countries, especially in the United Kingdom. The largest lottery in the world is the EuroMillions, which operates on a pan-European basis and has a top prize of €2.4 billion ($3.45 billion). Other big lotteries include the Powerball, the New York State Lottery, and the Irish Sweepstakes.
There is a growing market for lottery-style games online, often in violation of gambling laws. Companies such as GTech Corporation, based in West Greenwich, Rhode Island, administer 70% of worldwide lottery-style game business, according to company estimates. The number of online lottery-style games has increased as Internet access has become more affordable and popular.
The lottery is a popular form of gambling in Laos, although the law regarding lotteries is complicated. While gambling is illegal in most of the country, there are Special Economic Zones where it is legal. However, a player from Laos can play at numerous offshore casinos without the risk of getting caught.
Laiza Chao of Portland, Oregon, is the latest winner of a huge lottery jackpot in the United States — more than $1.3 billion from a Powerball ticket bought at a local Plaid Pantry convenience store. The 46-year-old native of Laos and member of the Iu Mien ethnic group says he’ll split the prize with his wife and a friend.
“I’m very glad that the winnings are going to be shared by the public, but I wish the government would take back control of the lottery,” he told RFA’s Lao Service. “It’s not right that private business interests are responsible for managing the lottery because they cannot be trusted.” The caller also said he believes that some of the business owners connected to the lottery have connections with the country’s ruling elite. He added that the public is not informed how much these business interests pay for the annual costs of their concession.