Basically, a lottery is a form of gambling, in which you pick random numbers. Some governments endorse and organize state lotteries, while others outlaw them.
Dutch state-owned Staatsloterij
Founded in 1726, the Dutch state-owned Staatsloterij is the oldest lottery system in the world. It is one of the most widely played forms of entertainment in the Netherlands. It provides prize money to 4.3 million people each month. It has also raised millions of euros for charity.
In the early years, Staatsloterij was hailed as a painless way to collect tax revenue. The government used it to raise money for town fortifications, to help the poor, and to free slaves from other countries. Throughout its history, Staatsloterij has grown in popularity, and now has become the Netherlands’ main source of tax revenue.
French lotteries
Despite a two-century ban on lotteries in France, French lotteries have an extensive history. In the fifteenth and seventeenth centuries, the French monarchy used lotteries to fund educational, military and medical institutions. During the eighteenth century, the country experienced a consumer revolution.
The first French lottery was established in the fifteenth century by King Francis I. His intention was to use lottery funds to construct towns and fortify cities. He also wanted to help the poor. In the seventeenth century, King Louis XIV donated the top prize to the government for redistribution.
Powerball
Powered by a Random Number Generator, the Powerball lottery is a multi-state game that offers players nine ways to win. The jackpots can run up to hundreds of millions of dollars.
Powerball is played in 45 states and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The ticket cost is typically $2. Players can purchase tickets at lottery retailers or online.
There are nine ways to win in Powerball, which means players need to decide whether to maximize their chances of winning the jackpot or the lower tier prizes.
Vikinglotto
Originally known as the European Lottery, Vikinglotto is now played in eleven different nations. These nations include Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Iceland, Estonia, Latvia, Finland, Lithuania, the Czech Republic and Slovenia.
The main prize for VikingLotto is a jackpot that rolls over until the winner matches all seven numbers. The odds of winning this prize are one in 140,2458.5. In addition to the jackpot, there are nine other ways to win a large prize.
The minimum prize is EUR1 million. The odds of winning the first prize are one in 98,172,096. The second prize is one in 15,339,390. The third prize is one in 389,572. The fourth prize is one in 55,653 and the fifth prize is one in four.