Hong Kong lottery is one of the world’s most popular lotteries, with jackpot prizes that can easily exceed a million dollars. It was first launched in 1975 to fight illegal gambling and is now a major source of revenue for the city, generating over HK$10 billion annually for sports and community projects. While critics warn that the hongkong lottery can promote addiction and lead to pathological gambling, others point out that it is an important way for people to participate in philanthropy.
The game works just like any other lotto: players pick six numbers from 1 through 49, and if they get all of them right, they win the jackpot prize. There are also other smaller prizes, and the odds of winning are one in 13,983,816. The first prize is usually around HK$8 million, and the jackpot pool grows on special days, such as holidays or unique festivals.
During the Chinese New Year, for example, a HK$10 million jackpot was awarded to a man from a small town in Jiangxi province. His winnings are worth about US$1.25 million, and he is planning to use it to support his family. In addition, he will donate some of the money to charity.
