Lotteries around the world are massively popular and can be big business for many countries. Draws such as the US Powerball, Euro Millions and others create overnight millionaires time and time again each year.

Lotteries can also be a way for governments to generate money without having to increase tax rates. Whether they actual increase public spending, though, is the subject of much debate.

There can also be a tie to political views, in some ways related to government, for those who win the lottery. This was evidenced by a study conducted in Australia.

"The amount won in the lottery is completely randomised but we saw that the more you win, the more right-leaning you become," University of Melbourne Professor Nattavudh Powdthavee told The Guardian.

"You are more likely to favour right wing ideas, such as lower taxation, and are less favourable to redistributive policies.

"The change was instant following the lottery win. We could track it from year to year and saw there was almost no lag time, particularly if there was a large win over £500."

The availability of betting online on the outcome of lotteries has certainly increased the number of people entering. With ease of access via the world wide web, the quantity of lottery entries is really high. With this comes additional elements for governments and commissions to consider.

Taxation is a big factor, too. In some countries, lottery winnings are taxed. In others, they are not. The United States of America, for example, tax big lottery wins. In South Africa, for another example, major lottery wins are not taxed. Citizens have several different views on tax, so it can be a dividing or uniting factor.

And then there is the issue of anonymity. Some people value their privacy more than others. In some countries, jackpot winners have to reveal their identity publicly after claiming their prize. For the USA, by example, this can differ from state to state. In other parts of the world, revealing one's identity after a big lottery win is not a necessity. 

In 2018, a woman from New Hampshire fought to keep her identity anonymous after winning $560 million in the US Powerball. She cited apprehension around being targeted by scammers as one of reason for wanting to retain her anonymity.

The matter went to the Supreme Court. Her legal team argued: "She is part of a small demographic which has been historically victimised by the unscrupulous with life-threatening consequences.

"There are countless stories of other lottery winners who have suffered significantly after receiving their money, many of which could have been avoided if the winners' identities had not been provided."

She ultimately won the case, but was not allowed to keep where she lived anonymous.

Judge Charles Temple, who presided over the case, said: "I have no doubts whatsoever that should Ms. Doe's identity be revealed, she will be subject to an alarming amount of harassment, solicitation, and other unwanted communications."

Her lawyer William Shaheen added: "She was jumping up and down. She will be able to live her life normally."

Disclaimer: Customers betting with Lottoland are betting on the outcome of the Lottery and not the actual lottery itself.