The popularity of lotteries in Europe has grown to such an extent that the European market is estimated to account for 40-45% of total world lottery sales. The top five lotteries, according to the Scientific Games Corporation, are France, Spain, Japan, Italy, and the United Kingdom. In 2004, the top five lotteries teamed up to create the Euro Millions lottery. Today, the world’s largest lottery attracts over a hundred million players every month.

Lotteries raise money for towns

The practice of holding lotteries dates back thousands of years. The Old Testament mentions land being distributed by lot, and the Roman emperors held lottery draws to distribute property and slaves. In the United States, colonists introduced lotteries to raise money for towns and public-works projects, and the practice has continued to grow. Today, lotteries are the most common means of raising money for organizations and towns.

Colleges

A college admissions lottery may seem unfair, but it may be more comforting to some than others. After all, competitive admissions tend to focus on taking the right courses and choosing activities that align with a student’s interests. Using a lottery to select students is a reasonable solution to this problem, but it would also undermine the prestige of elite colleges and the hiring practices of corporate firms. Here are a few things to consider before implementing a college admissions lottery.

Sports figures

This Sunday will see the BBC announce the winner of its Sports Personality of the Year competition. More than half of the finalists are lottery-funded, including long-distance runner Mo Farah, cyclist Chris Froome, swimmer Adam Peaty, and gymnast Max Whitlock. The lottery also has an impact on young people, with a recent study suggesting that a third of children play the lottery. But what are the benefits of lottery funding for sportspeople?

Movie stars

There are many theories about movie stars and the lottery. Some have hidden agendas, while others simply enjoy the attention. For example, Hugh Jackman bought lottery tickets for his crew on a film set and gave them to his co-stars to help bond the cast. Jackman noticed that the people he worked with had little chemistry and didn’t know each other’s names, so he used the lottery as a way to make friends. In the film, he even gave away all his tickets to those who wanted to meet him.