Lotteries are popular around the world and are used as an important source of revenue for many governments. They are regulated by law in most countries, with some exceptions. In some cases, the proceeds of lottery sales are used to fund public services such as education. In other cases, a portion of the proceeds is returned to the participants as winnings. Many state and local governments also run their own lotteries. Several private companies are also licensed to sell lotteries in the United States. The most common type of lottery game is the instant ticket. Some jurisdictions also use video lottery terminals, which are similar to slot machines in appearance and function.
Winners are able to choose how much they wish to win and can also select multiple prizes. For example, a lucky player may be the winner of three or four separate prizes. Each prize is worth a different amount depending on the number of matching numbers in a given sequence. The odds of winning are also based on the number of tickets sold and the prize structure.
The prize money for the Powerball lottery is often announced in billions of dollars, but the actual payout is less after taxes and other expenses. The total for the recent Powerball winner in Oregon was approximately $422 million dollars. The winner, Cheng Saephan, is a Laotian immigrant who lives in the Portland suburb of Milwaukie. He said that he and his wife, Duanpen, will split half of the winnings and give the rest to a friend who helped him buy the tickets.
Saephan has been battling cancer for eight years and plans to donate some of his winnings to help support her family and others in the community. He and his wife bought the winning tickets at a Plaid Pantry convenience store in early April. They are a part of a large Iu Mien (pronounced “wee meen”) community in the Portland area that includes a Buddhist temple, a Baptist church, social organizations and businesses.
Lottery enthusiasts eagerly awaited the results of this week’s draw broadcast live. They cross-referenced their ticket entries with the official results, hoping to find a match that would lead to a substantial windfall. Many hoped to see the number 134, which is associated with the buffalo in Laos. However, access to the number was limited throughout the day, and it was changed only an hour before the drawing, a source told RFA on condition of anonymity.
A Lao state official who asked to be identified only by his title but spoke on condition of anonymity told RFA that business interests with a stake in the lottery are controlled by individuals connected to the country’s ruling elite. He questioned whether those interests are genuinely concerned about the welfare of the nation’s citizens.
In Australia, the Australian Government Lottery is operated by Tatts under a government license in each state and territory. The company is the largest operator in the country, and has been selling lottery products for over 50 years. Besides the main draw, there are also instant games and scratch cards, which are available online as well as in stores.