Lotteries are gambling games where the prize money is determined by the results of a random draw. Some countries have national lottery systems that are managed by a government agency while others allow private companies to run the games. Some of these companies operate online lottery services. Many of these companies offer a variety of games, including keno, bingo, and scratch-off tickets. Some offer free lottery games while others charge a premium for their services. Whether or not these games are legal depends on local gambling laws.
Lottery Online
Traditionally, lottery games have been organized by state or territorial governments, but the Internet has opened up new possibilities for the promotion of these games. In the United States, for example, a number of new types of lottery-style games have been developed and are being sold by private entrepreneurs. A company called GTech Corporation has claimed to handle 70% of the world’s lottery business.
In other countries, private lotteries are permitted under local law. In Canada, for instance, until 1967 purchasing a ticket on the Irish Sweepstakes was illegal, but that year the federal Liberal government introduced an Omnibus Bill designed to bring up-to-date a number of obsolete laws, including the one concerning lotteries. That Bill was sponsored by the Minister of Justice, Pierre Trudeau.
The result was that a national lottery system was established in Canada, with four nationwide games: Lotto 6/49, Lotto Max, and the Daily Grand. The winnings from these lotteries are distributed to charities and community organizations, and sports and recreation programs. Moreover, the lottery proceeds are used to support education and medical research.
Laos has a national lottery, but it is controlled by private business interests with close ties to the country’s ruling elite. A caller to RFA’s Lao service reported that the businesses responsible for managing the lottery are owned by individuals with connections to the families of Lao prime minister Thongsing and former president Khamtay Siphandone, among other high-ranking officials. The lottery is not transparent and is not audited, the caller added.
The caller urged the government to reclaim control of the lottery and stop the private business interests from manipulating the games. “The government should resume responsibility for the lottery, because private business interests should not be allowed to take advantage of people,” he said. RFA’s Ounkeo Souksavanh contributed to this report. See the full article in the December 12 issue of RFA’s Lao Service. Visit the Lao Service’s website to listen and learn more. Copyright