Official lottery is a form of gambling where people purchase tickets for a chance to win a prize. Lottery tickets are regulated by state law and the prizes are paid out with public funds. Several states operate their own lotteries, while others are members of larger lottery conglomerates that run games with shared rules and jackpots.
Lottery revenue may be high in relative terms, but it is a drop in the bucket for most state governments, representing only 1 to 2 percent of total state revenues. And many of the winners end up poorer than when they won their ticket. It’s easy to understand why some state governments have stopped promoting their lotteries.
One major obstacle in the way of adding more state lotteries is competition from neighboring states, as they seek to keep their share of the revenue. That’s why Hawaii and Alaska haven’t joined the Powerball lottery. Other states have resisted expanding their lottery programs because they worry about the impact on low-income households.
Fraudsters contact lottery winners, promising them that they’re a winner and asking for money up-front in return for releasing the winnings. They may also ask for personal information and copies of official documents such as a passport or driver’s license. A legitimate lottery will never request this information or ask for money, and you should delete any emails requesting it. Be wary of any phone numbers beginning with 190, as these are charged at a premium rate.