Lotteries are games in which numbers are drawn to determine the winner. They can be operated by governments or private organizations. Many governments have laws against them, and they are often associated with organized crime. Nevertheless, lottery revenues are important for some governments, and many people enjoy playing them. There are also online lotteries that allow people to play from home. These sites are regulated by the government and offer a variety of games, including the classic lotto.
New Zealand: The national lottery is run by an autonomous Crown entity, Lotto New Zealand (formerly the New Zealand Lottery Commission). The profits from the national lottery are distributed by the Lottery Grants Board to a number of community-based groups. These include Sport and Recreation New Zealand, Creative New Zealand, and the New Zealand Film Commission. The New Zealand lottery is not taxed.
Canada: The Canadian national lottery is operated by the Interprovincial Lottery Corporation, a consortium of five provincial/territorial lottery corporations that are owned by their respective jurisdictions: Atlantic Lottery Corporation (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador), Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (Ontario), Quebecor Lotteries Inc. (Quebec), Western Canada Lottery Corporation (Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, Northwest Territories, Yukon, and Nunavut), and BC Lottery Corporation (British Columbia). In addition, the government has a number of regional lotteries, including the Quebec Extra.
Laos: The Lao national lottery, or hwy, is a state-run business enterprise with the official name “Loterias y Apuestas del Estado”. It was established in 1994 and regulated by the Gambling Act. The hwy’s top prize/jackpot is the equivalent of six million kip. It is the world’s largest lottery, with a total prize pool of EUR2.4 billion in 2013. The Laos hwy is renowned for its attractive prizes for matching two or more numbers: A winning combination of four numbers can turn a 1,000 kip stake into 6 million kip, while a win of just three numbers will yield a six-fold return on investment.
The hwy is also known for its animal-named lottery numbers, with each number being assigned an image of a different animal. In recent years, however, it has become a source of controversy and criticism. Some commentators have claimed that the hwy is rigged in favor of wealthy individuals and companies, as well as the families of ruling elite members. One such critic, speaking on condition of anonymity, told RFA that the majority of the companies responsible for the hwy are owned by individuals with connections to the country’s ruling class. Others have noted that the hwy’s drawings are not transparent.