The official lottery offers fun, convenience and information to Pennsylvania Lottery players on the go. Download today and get the latest winning numbers, prizes and jackpots at your fingertips. *In the event of a discrepancy between the online results and official drawings, the official drawing results shall prevail. **The official winning numbers are those selected in the respective drawing and recorded under the supervision of an independent accounting firm. The prize payouts posted on this website are estimates based on actual sales and one winner per drawing.
The lottery is a state-sponsored gambling game whose proceeds are used to benefit the public. In the immediate post-World War II period, it was seen as a way for states to expand their social safety nets without raising taxes too much on poor people. But it was also believed that people will always gamble, so the state might as well offer the games to generate revenue. That, of course, is a false belief. It doesn’t stop the gambling, it creates more of it, and it also encourages younger generations to gamble.
State-sponsored lotteries are not subject to the same kind of scrutiny that other businesses are. They can advertise in a variety of ways, and they are not required to provide any evidence that their marketing claims are true. As a result, they are in a position to present a misleading picture of the benefits of the lottery.
They can make it sound like winning the lottery is a great way to pay for your education, or that you’re helping out your community. But what they don’t tell you is that the percentage of money that state lottery commissions raise for state programs is far smaller than the percentage that sports betting raises for states.
In addition to the main draw games, the National Lottery also sells so-called scratchcards. These are small cards with an area covered by a thin layer of opaque latex that can be scratched off to reveal hidden items or pictures. They can cost between £1 and £2 and are available in most newsagents and supermarkets.
While many people enjoy playing the lottery, it’s important to play responsibly. If you think that you have a problem, please call 2-1-1 or Gamblers Anonymous in North Dakota for help. Remember, the lottery is just a game, and it should not take up more of your time or money than you can afford to spend. If you’re spending more than you can afford, please talk to a trusted family member or friend about your problem. For confidential support, call 1-800-BETS OFF or visit www.betsoff.org.