Lotteries are a popular way to raise money for public causes. A man in Oregon is expected to share hundreds of millions with a friend after winning a lottery game that has become famous around the world for its massive jackpots. The winner, Cheng Saephan, is an immigrant from Laos. He plans to take half the prize and give the rest to his friend, who is battling cancer. The couple will live in Portland, where there is a large Iu Mien community that includes a Buddhist temple, a church and social organizations.
In the United States, state-licensed online lottery sites are now a major source of gambling revenue, providing a convenient alternative to traditional brick-and-mortar casinos. However, they are not without risk. A few key factors should be taken into consideration before making a decision to purchase a ticket.
New Zealand has a nationwide lottery, administered by Lotto New Zealand, an autonomous Crown entity. Lotto profits are distributed to various statutory bodies, such as Sport and Recreation New Zealand, Creative New Zealand, and the New Zealand Film Commission, which distribute their allocations from the Lottery Grants Board to charities and community organisations. Unlike many other countries, Lotto New Zealand does not tax its winnings.
The New Zealand Lottery has a reputation for integrity and impartiality, with the prize pool being the highest in the world. In addition, the New Zealand Lottery has a wide range of games to choose from including Lotto (including Powerball and Strike), Keno, Bullseye, Instant Kiwi scratch card games, and more. New Zealanders can also purchase tickets online.
While the number of players in online lottery games is increasing rapidly, there are several risks associated with playing these games. First, it is important to choose a trusted site to play from. Make sure that the site offers a secure connection and has a license to operate in your country. In addition, it is a good idea to check the privacy policy of the website before you begin playing.
In the communist nation of Laos, lottery officials are accused of rigging the system to avoid paying out large prizes. Drawings of the national lottery frequently show numbers that vanish from purchased tickets or are deemed unlucky by buyers, sources in Vientiane tell RFA’s Lao Service. One such incident occurred on Oct. 14, when the number 509 appeared only as a five on purchased tickets throughout the day, but suddenly changed to 134 an hour before the drawing was broadcast over the radio, the source said. The number was reverted 10 minutes later.