Lotteries are government-run games where participants purchase tickets for the chance to win a prize. Ticket sales are often used to support public projects, with large portions of many American state lotteries being used to fund public education systems. Lottery winners’ identities are typically kept secret unless they give their consent, and most countries have laws against playing lottery games without a license. Despite this, there are many online services that offer the possibility to play lottery-style games without a license, and these sites are usually unregulated.

Laos has been cracking down on these illegal services. On Aug. 17, the office of Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith sent a directive requiring the Ministry of Finance, which oversees the country’s legal state lottery, to work with the Ministry of Public Security to better manage the problem. Drawings from the state lottery must now be reduced to one per week and winnings handled in a more transparent manner, the directive said. Informal football lotteries and lottery chances purchased via short messaging service will also be closed down.

The earliest recorded lotteries were probably run by the French in or around 1505, although they were prohibited for two centuries. They reappeared in the late 17th century, first as a public lottery for the city of Paris (Loterie de l’Hotel de Ville) and then as private ones for religious orders, such as the Shrine Temple which gained permission to promote the game during the Meiji Era.

Since the advent of the Internet, lotteries have become increasingly popular and many companies now operate online versions. GTech Corporation, based in West Greenwich, Rhode Island, runs 70% of the world’s lottery online games, according to its website. The company is also involved in a variety of other gaming technologies, including video lottery terminals.

Lotteries are now run in a number of ways worldwide, with governments overseeing state lotteries in every country and Tatts Group operating national games under government licence. They are now also available on the Internet, and a range of re-sellers are licensed to sell tickets. These websites also provide a means for people to check their winnings.