[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 180 (Tuesday, November 14, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S17040-S17041]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           LIECHTENSTEIN-BASED LOTTERY ROLLS OUT ON INTERNET

 Mr. LUGAR. Mr. President, I ask that the following article be 
printed in the Record.
  The article follows:

               [From Reuters News Service, Oct. 3, 1995]

           Liechtenstein-Based Lottery Rolls Out on Internet

       London.--A new international lottery, licensed by the 
     government of the tiny European principality of 
     Liechtenstein, was launched via the Internet Tuesday.
       InterLotto will give the world's 50 million Internet users 
     the opportunity every week to win a jackpot of at least $1 
     million by dialling up a new World Wide Web page on the 
     Internet computer network.
       ``It is the first government-licensed lottery on the 
     Internet,'' David Vanrenen, chairman of the International 
     Lottery in Liechtenstein Foundation, told a news conference.
       The launch in London, headquarters of the computer services 
     firm Micro Media Services Ltd, which provides the hardware 
     and technology for InterLotto, came on the heels of 
     controversy over Britain's National Lottery.
       The opposition Labor Party Monday criticized the National 
     Lottery for making profits and there have been jibes that the 
     lottery funds elitist causes.

[[Page S 17041]]

       Interlotto officials said players could nominate charities 
     to receive awards. At least five percent of InterLotto 
     revenues will go to charity initially with 65 percent going 
     in prize money and the rest going toward paying costs.
       ``Every time you book a ticket, you enter a nomination for 
     a charity,'' Vanrenen said.
       The foundation, authorized and controlled by the 
     Liechtenstein government, is operating InterLotto.
       Liechtenstein, a tax-free country of 30,000 residents 
     wedged between Switzerland and Austria, will not receive any 
     money from the lottery which is non-profit-making.
       The government will select charities to receive donations. 
     Ticket purchasers will then vote to decide which of the 
     selected groups receive funds. Organizers hope to sell one 
     million tickets a week by the end of the year.
       The British National Lottery donates 28 percent of its 
     revenues to good causes and charities. Like most other 
     government-run lotteries in Europe, the British lottery pays 
     out 50 percent of revenues in prize money.

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