Latest news with #TheLotter
NZ Herald
5 days ago
- Business
- NZ Herald
Lotto NZ powerless to stop a Malta-based gambling operation from running a direct copy of Powerball
TheLotter website says 'The distance between Russia and New Zealand is roughly 10,000 kilometres. So how did one of TheLotter's veteran players from Russia win a fantastic prize of NZ$226,101 when he played New Zealand Powerball? By playing it globally, of course!" Lotto NZ is aware of the development, saying TheLotter is one of many corporate syndicates that either 'resell physical tickets bought locally in countries, or offer their own variations of national lotteries, or some combination'. NZPowerLuck offers identical game play, draw results and prizes as Lotto Powerball's Wednesday and Saturday night draws. The online gambling industry accounts for 16% of Malta's GDP and employs more than 24,000 of the country's 552,747 population. TheLotter is geoblocked, meaning those using a New Zealand IP address can't access its games. Malta-based TheLotter offers punters a direct copy of Lotto Powerball - named NZPowerLuck. Photo / File A spokesman for TheLotter said its NZPowerLuck game received consistent interest from its customers 'particularly during large jackpot periods'. TheLotter offers tickets for more than 45 official lotteries from around the world, and its own derivatives of national or regional lotteries. Lotto NZ head of corporate communications Will Hine said Lotto NZ was 'aware' of TheLotter, and Kiwi Lotto bosses have previously raised the issue of the syndicates with the Department of Internal Affairs. The global online gambling market – including online casino, lottery and sports and racing markets - is estimated to be worth $97 billion, with a study by market research company FNF Research predicting it will grow to $306b by 2030. The Herald reported yesterday how Lotto NZ had blocked a global gambling group from buying tickets for big-dollar Lotto Powerball draws. Lotto NZ terms and conditions forbid ticket sales to people outside New Zealand, and tickets on-sold internationally become ineligible for prizes. But that hasn't stopped a 'commercial syndicate' trying to evade the rules and buy Powerball tickets anyway. Hine said overseas sites 'on-sell lottery tickets from a range of jurisdictions' and offer copycat versions of national lotteries - or both. Neil Reid is a Napier-based senior reporter who covers general news, features and sport. He joined the Herald in 2014 and has 33 years of newsroom experience. Sign up to The Daily H, a free newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Indian Express
27-06-2025
- General
- Indian Express
A lottery no one wants to draw: How June 27 became synonymous with blind tradition
For most, June 27 might seem like just another summer day, but for fans of psychological horror and American literature it is of the most chilling and unforgettable dates ever written. In Shirley Jackson's short story, The Lottery, it is the day a small town comes together for a horrifying tradition: a public execution disguised as a community event. When The Lottery was first published in The New Yorker on June 26, 1948, readers were shocked and horrified. The magazine received an overwhelming response from readers across the country. Reposting the story in 2021, The New Yorker reminisced: 'Jackson's short story 'The Lottery,' from 1948, inspired the most mail The New Yorker had ever received in response to a work of fiction and caused some readers to cancel their subscriptions.' People were upset not just because of the story's dark twist, but because it hit too close to home. Jackson did not write of fantastical monsters removed from reality, she wrote about ordinary people doing something terrible simply because 'it's tradition.' Each year on June 27, the townspeople gather to hold a lottery where one person is chosen by a random draw. The 'winner,' however, is not rewarded (spoiler alert), the town stones them to death. On the day the novel unfolds, the person selected is Tessie Hutchinson. Though she laughs and jokes at the beginning, her tone changes when her name is called. She protests, 'It wasn't fair!' But no one listens. The sheeplike townspeople carry out the tradition without remorse. Even Tessie's young son is given a few pebbles to throw. What makes The Lottery so disturbing is how normal everything seems. The setting is peaceful. The characters are ordinary people. The word 'lottery' usually suggests a prize or something positive. Because of this contrast, the brutal ending is even more shocking. Shirley Jackson uses this dissonance to make readers uncomfortable. It is a warning against the dangers of blindly following tradition. The villagers do not really know why they hold the lottery. They have forgotten most of the original ritual, but they still do it every year without question. The story also shows how ordinary people can commit violence when it is socially accepted. No one in the town feels personally responsible for Tessie's death, because everyone is participating. The calmness with which the brutal murder is narrated is a testament to how the practice has been normalised . Even Tessie does not protest the lottery itself, only the fact that she is chosen. It speaks of pervasive collective compliance where people often ignore injustice until it affects them personally. The Lottery continues to be taught, studied, and debated more than 75 years after it was first published. It has been adapted for stage and screen, referenced in TV shows, and included in countless anthologies. And each year, as June 27 approaches, readers are reminded of the terrifying power of tradition, and our responsibility to question it. The Lottery reminds us that the most frightening monsters are not always fictional, most of the time they hide in plain sight: smiling, laughing, and following the rules.
Associated Press
18-04-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
TheLotter CEO Advocates for Clear Regulation During ECGC Panel on Gaming's Future
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J., April 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- TheLotter Group CEO Yael Hertz was a featured panelist at the 28th Annual East Coast Gaming Conference (ECGC). Yael Hertz brings over a decade of expertise at the intersection of online gaming, financial services, and regulatory strategy. Hertz brought a unique perspective to the ECGC panel, 'Future Shock: Confronting Unprecedented Changes in Gaming', which explored how regulators, operators and suppliers in the gaming industry are adapting to transformative shifts impacting everything from licensing to market share and beyond. During the ECGC panel discussion, Hertz expressed the importance of regulatory framework and guidelines for lottery couriers being set forth by each state. She highlighted how having a clear regulatory framework helps everyone move forward with confidence — pointing to New Jersey and New York as a great example of effective collaboration between operators and regulators. As a leader in the lottery courier industry, TheLotter believes that real innovation starts with truly understanding the customers. Or as Hertz put it: 'When you understand the pain points and solve them in a way that builds trust, that's how you create meaningful, competitive offerings.' 'I'm excited to have been part of a panel that pushes the conversation forward in an industry that's constantly evolving,' said Hertz. 'Events like ECGC create invaluable opportunities for regulators, operators, and suppliers alike to come together and shape the future of gaming.' Since taking the helm at TheLotter Group in 2023, Hertz has spearheaded a strategic transformation within the company, with a strong focus on penetrating the U.S. market. Under her leadership, The Lotter Group secured its first U.S. licenses in New Jersey and New York and is actively pursuing additional state licenses as part of its expansion roadmap. Lloyd Levenson, co-founder of the ECGC, felt that it was essential to include TheLotter Group at this year's East Coast Gaming Conference, stating: 'Their insights offer a fresh and dynamic perspective on the evolving gaming landscape —from navigating complex regulatory hurdles to identifying new opportunities for growth in the Lottery Courier space.' TheLotter offers a modern solution to the lottery experience while also dedicating significant effort to upholding responsible gaming standards, such as self-exclusion and spend limits, which are difficult to implement in the retail environment. In addition, TheLotter collaborates with local retailers to fulfill online ticket orders, generating increased revenue for local businesses. At the same time, they make substantial marketing investments which help to raise awareness and drive engagement with state lotteries. By integrating technology, responsible gaming, and community partnership, TheLotter is helping strengthen the state lottery's ecosystem and increase funding for essential state-supported programs, such as education, veterans' services, and public infrastructure. TheLotter has been, and will continue to be active in lobbying each state to establish the regulatory framework necessary to promote transparency, responsibility, and growth—benefiting both customers and the state. About theLotter US: TheLotter US is a lottery courier service that provides US residents the opportunity to order official lottery tickets online, offering a secure and convenient way to participate in state lotteries. Lottery draw game tickets are purchased on a customer's behalf at a fully vetted and licensed lottery retailer. All prizes are paid out by the official state lotteries. Must be 18+ (21+ in AZ). GAMBLING PROBLEM? Call 800-GAMBLER®. Residents of NY call HOPEline at 877-8-HOPENY (1-877-846-7369) or text HOPENY (467369). OR call 877-MYLIMIT. View original content: SOURCE TheLotter US
