Lottery games are a popular form of gambling in many countries. They can be played on a variety of platforms, including computers and mobile devices. Most lottery games are governed by state or provincial laws, although some are national. Typically, prizes are paid out in cash or other goods. Some games also have a social component where winners help charitable projects. The prize money in a lottery game is usually split between players who match all or most of the numbers drawn.
In the United States, the largest lottery is run by the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Commission. Its website provides a full list of lottery games, rules and regulations. The state also has a mobile app that allows players to check results and receive push notifications. In addition, the Maryland Lottery encourages responsible play. Players must be at least 18 years old to purchase tickets.
The history of lotteries is a long and varied one. They have often been controversial, and even illegal in some places. However, they have proven to be effective ways for governments to raise funds. Lottery is now an important part of the world’s economy. There are currently more than 150 state and territorial lotteries around the world. Many offer instant lottery games and keno. The total amount of worldwide lottery sales is in the billions.
In Canada, there are four nationwide lotteries: the Atlantic Lottery Corporation (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador), Quebec Lottery and Gaming Corporation (Quebec), Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (Ontario), and Western Canada Lottery Corporation (Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut). The government-run Canadian National Lottery also has a pan-Canadian program called EuroMillions.
Lottery games are played in many ways, but the most common are scratch-off tickets and video lottery terminals. Instant-win games are also becoming increasingly popular, and are sometimes referred to as “instant lottery”. In the United States, the most popular instant-win game is Powerball. The winner of Powerball can choose a single number or multiple numbers, and may win a jackpot that is worth millions of dollars.
Laos has a national lottery, which is operated by business interests with close ties to the country’s ruling elite. A caller to RFA’s Lao Service reported that these private business interests pay the government an annual fee to manage the lottery. However, the state doesn’t disclose how much it pays for the concession, and there are no inspections of the lottery.
This talk by linguistic anthropologist Charles Zuckerman will explore the political, economic and moral history of the national lottery in Laos since 1975, and look at what it means for people on the ground. He will draw on fieldwork conducted in Luang Prabang during his Ph.D research. His research focused on gender and the moral dimensions of gambling.