Lotteries have a long history in the United States, and are a popular way to fund public works. The first state-regulated lottery was established in Massachusetts in 1739. Today, there are more than 40 state-regulated lotteries in the United States. Most state lotteries raise money for education and other public purposes. Some state-run lotteries are operated by private companies, and others are run by local or county governments. Some state-regulated lotteries are available only to residents of the state, while others are open to residents and nonresidents alike.
The National Lottery in Spain is the world’s largest public lottery. Its prize pool is averages EUR2.4 billion, and its winnings are split among 180 winners. The Spanish National Lottery is managed by the state-owned lottery operator, Loterias y Apuestas del Estado (LOTE). In addition to running the nation’s public lottery, LOTE also runs EuroMillions, an international lottery for players in the United Kingdom, France, and Spain.
In Canada, the sale of lottery tickets is regulated by provincial and territorial governments. The Interprovincial Lottery Corporation (ILLC) oversees four nationwide games: Lotto 6/49, Lotto Max, Daily Grand and Millionaire Life. In addition, Instant Lottery tickets (also called scratch cards) are a significant source of lottery revenue in many jurisdictions.
Lottery online is becoming increasingly common in a variety of countries. The number of sites offering lottery-style games is growing, and some are gaining market share from traditional lotteries. In some cases, people who would not ordinarily play a lotto are attracted to the instant-win aspect of these websites. These websites often charge premiums on the base lottery prices.
In Laos, private business interests have a stake in the country’s national lottery. They pay the government an annual concession fee for the right to operate the lottery, but the public is not informed about how much they actually make from it. Some of the businesses involved in the lottery have close ties to the ruling elite, a caller told RFA’s Lao Service.
Cheng Saephan, a 46-year-old immigrant from the southeast Asian nation of Laos, won the $1.3 billion Powerball jackpot in Oregon on April 22. His luck changed his life, he said. “I’m a billionaire now,” he said. “My wife is taking half and I’m giving the other to my friend.” He wore a sash at the news conference that identified him as an Iu Mien, a Southeast Asian ethnic group with roots in southern China who assisted American forces during the Vietnam War. Many Iu Mien families fled to Thailand and later moved to the United States.