Until recently, lottery games have been a fairly popular pastime, and there are many online options. However, laws governing these activities have not kept pace with the growth of the internet and the increasing popularity of these types of games. This has led to the rise of unauthorized lottery sites and services, many of which charge premiums on top of the base lottery price. In addition, some states are cracking down on these services and have been enacting more strict regulations regarding their operation.
Lottery winners have to pay taxes on the winnings, and the total prize is usually much less than advertised – at least in the US. Many people also use the money to invest in stocks and bonds, and some even buy property with the money. Some people choose to keep the money for themselves, while others choose to give it away.
A Lao immigrant living in Portland, Oregon, has won the Powerball lottery and plans to give half of his winnings to a friend. Forty-six-year-old Cheng Saephan is one of thousands of Iu Mien (people of Chinese descent from the Mekong delta) who have immigrated to the United States through a refugee rescue program after fighting alongside American troops in the Vietnam War. The couple will split the winnings of $422 million dollars after federal and state taxes are taken out.
The number that won them the jackpot, 09, is associated with the buffalo, which is a symbol of good fortune in Laos. It was a popular choice for buyers, but the number appeared only on purchased tickets throughout the day of the drawing and disappeared after it was announced as the winner. Lao radio was also unable to broadcast the results until an hour before the drawing, a source told RFA’s Lao service on condition of anonymity.
Lao state officials speaking on condition of anonymity meanwhile have complained that private business interests are manipulating the national lottery. They say the winning numbers are rigged to avoid large pay-outs and that some of the companies with stakes in the lottery have connections to the country’s ruling elite.
Lottery players are encouraged to play responsibly and to check the winning numbers before claiming them. To learn more about Responsible Gaming, click here. Lottery operators are licensed at a State or Territory level and include Government-owned companies, as well as re-sellers that operate under a licence from a licensed operator. Licensed re-sellers sell Australian lottery products online and are required to comply with the state/territory gambling licensing laws. New Zealand has four different lottery products: Lotto, Keno, Bullseye and Instant Kiwi scratch card games. Proceeds from the lottery are distributed to a range of charities and community organizations by an independent Crown entity, Lottery New Zealand.