Day: December 30, 2024

A lottery is a type of gambling in which people pay money to be selected at random to win a prize. The winners can choose to receive their winnings in one lump sum or receive payments over time. This option helps winners avoid spending their prize all at once, and it can also allow them to invest the winnings to grow. A large number of states have lotteries, which are run by state governments and typically offer a variety of prizes. In addition to providing revenue for state government, lotteries can also help fund public education, social services, and other initiatives.

While most lottery players realize they are unlikely to win, they still buy tickets in the hopes that they will. This is an example of irrational thinking, but it is also a reflection of human nature. Many people believe that luck plays a significant role in our lives, and the lottery is a popular way to test this theory.

Lottery is a form of gambling that is regulated by law in most states. The winning numbers are randomly chosen by either a physical system that spins balls with numbered stickers on them or by a computerized system. The randomness of the winning numbers is meant to ensure that the odds of winning are fair for all participants. Some people try to increase their odds by buying multiple tickets, purchasing tickets in advance, or using a variety of other strategies. While these tactics may not improve their chances significantly, they can be fun to experiment with.

The lottery is a popular way for states to raise money without raising taxes, but it has come under increasing scrutiny in recent years. Some critics argue that it imposes a disproportionate burden on lower-income people, because those with less disposable income tend to spend more on lottery tickets. Others point out that lotteries are not an effective substitute for higher taxes, because they do not increase public spending.

In 2023, lottery players spent more than $113.3 billion on tickets in the United States. The vast majority of this money went to the prize pool, and about 24% was used for state initiatives. The remainder was used for lottery operating costs and retailer commissions.

SINGAPORE — Khir Johari’s The Food of Singapore Malays: Gastronomic Travels Through The Archipelago has won the triennial National University of Singapore (NUS) History Prize, beating five other shortlisted publications. The hefty tome, which took 14 years from conception to publication and weighs 3.2kg, will receive the coveted cash prize of $50,000. The book beat the other contenders on account of its “rich and well-sourced text” that “presented a fresh perspective on our past,” says the NUS History Prize jury. The prize was first mooted in 2014 by former Singapore diplomat Kishore Mahbubani, now a Distinguished Fellow at the NUS Asia Research Institute. It aims to foster the reading of Singapore history, particularly works that cast a wide net and move beyond the conventional view of history as a record of big movers and shakers.

Other winners include NUS Professor Emeritus Peter Ellinger’s Down Memory Lane: Peter Ellinger’s Memoirs (2023), which won the best English debut prize and was lauded for its “beautiful coherence”. This memoir, written at the age of 91, recounts his life and shows how it intersects with many significant historical events.

The Jury also commended the work of NUS alumnus Harrison Si Min, who was awarded the Harvard Prize Book for his “careful and consistent efforts to inspire others to take small steps to care and give back to the community” and SMU student Muhammad Dinie, who led an Ang Mo Kio estate-wide project during the pandemic to thank Town Council cleaners. Dinie and his team handed out packed meals, groceries, and thank-you cards to a hundred residents.

This year, the prizes have been renamed and expanded to reflect their new goals. The NUS History Prize will now be accompanied by the NUS Prize for Writing on Singapore, which aims to encourage writing on Singaporean history in the broadest sense. The Harvard Prize Book, which had previously been a separate award, will continue to recognise exemplary students who are “caring individuals” and have gone above and beyond in their service to the community. Applicants must be pre-tertiary, and have demonstrated their caring through acts such as organising volunteerism, organising a community service programme, and providing care to family members or friends. The prizes come with a monetary prize, as well as a trophy and certificates of honour. More information about the new awards can be found here.