The winner of the Powerball lottery in the U.S. is an immigrant from Laos who said he plans to share his $1.3 billion prize with a close friend. The winner, who has not been named yet, has one year to claim the top prize and may choose a lump sum payout or an annuity paid over 30 years. The winner must also pay federal and state taxes. NBC Asian America’s Nancy Wang reports.
The winning ticket was purchased at a Plaid Pantry convenience store in early April in the Portland suburb of Milwaukie. It was the second time a lottery player from Oregon had won a Powerball jackpot. The first was a retired teacher who bought a ticket at a Costco in January and won $80 million. The winner, who wished to remain anonymous, is now sharing his $1.3 billion prize with his wife Duanpen and a friend who chipped in $100 to buy a batch of tickets. He told reporters he is happy to be able to help others, but that he doesn’t feel any pressure to spend the money.
Lottery online has grown rapidly, with several operators offering state lottery games and private lottery-style games that have become increasingly popular among younger players. These websites offer a variety of betting options, including instant win games and other forms of gambling such as sports handicapping and virtual poker. Some websites charge a fee for a service, while others offer free games and are funded by advertising revenue. In some cases, these services are legal in their jurisdictions, although they often face regulatory challenges due to the nature of their business.
In the United States, state lottery commissions oversee legal state lotteries, which include games like Powerball and Mega Millions. In addition, private companies such as GTech Corporation, which administers the Powerball game in New York and other states, have jumped into the lottery market with a variety of new products and offerings, including mobile-based games. Some of these services are legal, but many are not, and lottery experts warn that lottery online gaming is a growing concern for regulators.
In some countries, such as Bulgaria, private lotteries are not allowed. However, the country’s deputy finance minister and state lottery supervisor Sila Viengkeo has denied allegations that the government’s legal lottery system lacks transparency. On Aug. 17, the office of Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith sent a directive to the Ministry of Finance, which oversees the state lottery, asking it to work with the ministry of public security to improve the way it handles lotteries. The directive also calls for drawing frequency to be reduced from two to one per week, and informal football lotteries and lottery chances purchased via short messaging services to be shut down. The directive is not yet effective, but it has been widely reported. It was not immediately clear whether the ministry would enforce it.