Who owns lotteries in Russia and who checks them

Who owns lotteries in Russia

The answer to this question is simpler than it might seem: all lotteries in Russia areFederal Law No. 138-FZ of November 11, 2003 “On Lotteries” / Article 13. The procedure for organizing and conducting a lottery under the control of the state. Their direct organizers are the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Sports, and private draws in the country impossibleCarrying out lotteries / Federal Tax Service of Russia since 2014. The law secured the state monopoly in this industry, and also clearly markedFederal Law of December 28, 2013 No. 416-FZ “On Amendments to the Federal Law “On Lotteries” and Certain Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation” rules for conducting lotteries in Russia. These include three key requirements:

• Not less than 50% and not more than 70% lottery proceeds must be allocated to the prize fund.
• 10% from the difference between the proceeds and the prize fund are targeted deductions. They go to the budget to finance socially significant benefits - for example, the organization of sports events and the preparation of a sports reserve.
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• The lottery operator needs to confirm its reliability irrevocable bank guarantee.

In the last paragraph, an interesting term appears - “lottery operator”. In fact, this is a company that regulates the entire process of drawing, from the printing and distribution of tickets to the distribution of money to the winners. What then does the organizer do? Its main task is to select an operator. This happens on a competitive basis, after which a contract is concluded to support the turnkey state lottery. That is, the Ministries of Sports and Finance are responsible for choosing a reliable contractor, as well as for the formation and observance of the conditions for holding lotteries. Thus, they act as guarantors of the transparency of the draws to the participants.

Today there are only three lottery operators in Russia. Their activities are easy to control, especially compared to the chaos of the lottery in the 90s. Then hundreds of independent and not always honest companies had the right to conduct their own draws. Checking each firm was an almost impossible task, because many of them were one-day-old and disappeared without a trace even before government agencies received complaints of fraud.

The operator enters into an agreement with a distributor - a private company that takes over the sale of tickets and the payment of winnings. Leading position in this area in Russia takesArmen Sargsyan, his Stoloto company and S8 holding: from digitalization of lotteries to creation of turnkey IT solutions / Lenta.ru Stoloto: as a ticket distributor, the company cooperates with two of the three Russian operators - Sportloto LLC and GSL JSC. The distributor has been on the market for 12 years. And by the way, the first lottery ticket in Russia bought online was framedThe history of Stoloto / Stoloto.ru on the Gosloto website, which has now become part of Stoloto. Today, this brand unites the most famous and beloved lotteries in the country: for example, Russian Lotto, Housing Lottery, Rapido, Golden Horseshoe and many others.

Who checks Stoloto and other lotteries in Russia

The chief auditor in the luck industry is the Federal Tax Service. Its control over lotteries is enshrined in the relevant resolutionDecree of the Government of the Russian Federation of June 25, 2021 No. 1012 “On Federal State Control (Supervision) of Lotteries” Government of the Russian Federation. The operator and distributor have no opportunity to cheat - information about each ticket sold is recorded in the tax office. And in 2021, the Stoloto brand joinedStoloto bets on sports. The history of lotteries in Russia and the world / Kommersant to the online tax monitoring system. This means that the Federal Tax Service has gained access to the entire data mart of the distributing company. Moreover, in 2022, the lottery operator of the Ministry of Sports JSC GSL also connected to the online monitoring of the Federal Tax Service. Thus, additional control is provided by the tax service over the formation of the prize fund, the payment of winnings and the transfer of targeted contributions to the budget.

The guarantors of the honesty of state lotteries are also the organizers - the Ministry of Sports and Finance. Their means of verification include, among other things, independent control systems through which each ticket participating in the drawing passes. The organizers can also send their representatives to the draw commission to oversee the lottery.

In addition to representatives of the organizers, the composition of the draw commission maybeFederal Law of December 28, 2013 No. 416-FZ “On Amendments to the Federal Law “On Lotteries” and Certain Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation” enter any capable citizen of the Russian Federation over 18 years old. The commission monitors each draw: for example, it checks lottery equipment - a lottery drum or kegs with a bag - for the absence of any anomalies. So you can make sure that the principle of randomness will be observed when forming a winning combination.

Can lotteries fail?

Unfortunately, even space stations sometimes have technical errors. Lotteries, like any process, are not without sin. But mistakes in this industry are worth the trust of participants, so more than 140 different IT systems and platforms provide uninterrupted running of up to 600 runs per day.

Lottery equipment can be divided into three categories. The first is a classic bag and kegs for Russian Lotto; the second - lottery drums; the third is a random number generator (RNG). The requirements for all lottery equipment are strictly regulatedFederal Law No. 138-FZ of November 11, 2003 (as amended dated 02.07.2021) "On lotteries" / Article 12.1. Requirements for lottery equipment and lottery terminals by law. For example, kegs should be perfectly matched in weight and size, and the numbers on them should be impossible to determine by touch. Specialists regularly monitor that the weight of the barrels does not change, and among those who check the "Russian Lotto" there are again members of the draw commission. They may even request a checkweighing of the kegs.

All Stoloto lottery drums are made by large American and European manufacturers with a reliable reputation. Such equipment is used, for example, for the "Housing Lottery", "Big Sportloto" and "Golden Horseshoe". The devices consist of three parts: a loading block, a transparent sphere for mixing balls with the help of air flow and a receiving tray where the lucky numbers fall out. The weight of each ball is approximately 4.9 grams, and the maximum allowable weight variation is only 0.2 grams.

Only specially trained employees with special permission can work with loto drums. Every six months, the equipment is checked by specialists from the manufacturer.

The random number generator is also certified by the manufacturer, but once every 3 years. RNG blocks determine winning combinations in Rapido, Sportloto 5 out of 36, Duel and other state lotteries, where draws are held several times per hour. The generator looks like a big black cabinet with wires and shields: inside, complex devices continuously produce random electrical noises and turn them into numerical combinations.

An important part of any lottery is tickets. Faking them is no easy task. Printed copies reservedGOST R 54109‑2010 “Protective technologies. Protected printing products. General technical requirements» guilloche grid (a complex pattern of the finest lines), intaglio and colorless paints. And instant state lotteries require level B protection: when printing, background grids and iris peals are additionally used. These are smooth color transitions that can only be done with special equipment. The same technology is used in the production of banknotes and securities.

Stoloto not only makes sure that the lottery equipment works properly, but the drawing process is transparent. The company also protects members from cybercrime. Theft of personal data, interference with the operation of the site and mailing lists, attacks on programs embedded in RNG, creation fake pages - experts are trying to stop any kind of fraud and make lotteries in Russia safe.

Why people don't trust lotteries

The first lotteries, albeit far from their modern form, appeared even BCLottery / Britannica. And probably, disputes about the honesty of draws have also existed for millennia. There can be many reasons to doubt balls and kegs and wonder if lotteries test for transparency. For example, the same psychological mechanisms that make people believe in conspiracy theories may be at play. Main motiveWhy People Believe in Conspiracy Theories / verywellmind here is the craving of consciousness for understanding and clarity. The world is chaotic and sometimes difficult to perceive, and a person wants to find solid ground under his feet. Conspiracy theories become a beautiful prop: they explain global events in simple and understandable words that are easy to believe.

This mindset can work with government lotteries as well. It is easier to believe that “everything is bought” and there are no winners, than to understand the mechanisms of the lottery machines and the mathematical laws on which the draws are based. In addition, conspiracy theories, including hypotheses about dishonest lottery business, helpWhy People Believe in Conspiracy Theories / verywellmind deal with feeling hurt. When fortune smiles on someone else, it is more pleasant to make a villain and enemy out of the lucky one. So players who are unlucky do not feel like losers, but, on the contrary, feel some superioritySpeaking of Psychology: Why people believe in conspiracy theories, with Karen Douglas, PhD / APA over those who are not privy to lottery conspiracy theory.

In fact, everything really is decided by theory - but not a conspiracy, but probability. At the same time, the organizers themselves are extremely interested in the transparency of lotteries and increasing confidence in them.

The business of chance, luck and mathematical models is an important part of the budget directed by the state for the development of sports in the country. For example, "Olympic" was builtA quarter of the budget of the Olympics-80 was financed by income from the lotteries of the USSR / Komsomolskaya Pravda on deductions "Sportloto". For 2021 from the sale of lottery tickets under the Stoloto brand to the budget of the Russian Federation receivedStoloto bets on sports. The history of lotteries in Russia and the world / Kommersant 2.6 billion rubles of earmarked deductions. In its desire to develop lotteries for the benefit of sports, Russia is guided by world experience: for example, in Italy, the sports sector is mainly securedThe sport of high capital investments: how the industry financing model is changing / RBC targeted lottery payouts.

Another reason why people don't trust the money games lies in the mistakes of the past. In the 90s, private lotteries really ruined the reputation of the industry. According to some estimates, from 1998 to 2000, there were about 300Lottery: sports interest / Cyberleninka.ru drawings, but only half of the organizers had licenses. Not surprisingly, the number of deceived participants was also significant. Today, the entire industry is under state supervision, and the requirements for operators and distributors are very strict. The transparency of the lotteries is also monitored by auditing companies - they annually checkFederal Law of November 11, 2003 No. 138-FZ “On Lotteries” / Article 23. Audit check of the lottery operator bookkeeping and financial reporting of operators.

How to take part in the state lottery and check the winnings

You can buy a ticket online on the website or in the mobile application of the largest distributor, as well as offline - in branded kiosks "Stoloto", in the offices of the Russian Post, at the checkouts of supermarkets, gas stations and salons connections. You can also take part in state lotteries using SMS by paying for a ticket from your mobile phone account - MegaFon, Beeline, MTS and Tele2 give this opportunity to their subscribers. Those for whom lotteries are a pleasant hobby and leisure can visit the only lottery center in the world. Here you can watch the drawings of Stoloto numerical lotteries, which are held using lottery machines. This is a good opportunity to see with your own eyes how transparent the process of determining the winners is.

There are two fundamentally different types of lotteries: circulation and non-circulation. Non-running, or instant tickets, are tickets where you can erase the protective layer and immediately find out the amount of the winnings. With drawing games, you usually have to wait: in this case, drawings are held at a predetermined time. If it’s not interesting to erase the protective layer, but you don’t want to wait long, fast lotteries will do. They are held every 15 ("KENO" and "Rocketbingo") and 30 minutes (for example, "Duel", "Rapido", "All or Nothing").

Another selection criterion is the type of prize. In most cases, this is money, but sometimes you can get an apartment, a trip or a car.

You can pay for state lottery tickets not only in cash or with a bank card: special Stoloto bonuses will help you get your chance for good luck. The site regularly hosts promotions and games, for participation in which users receive bonus points. And this game currency also works as a cashback for every ticket purchased on the website or in the mobile application. By the way, when registering an account on Stoloto.ru, users automatically open a personal account - “Stoloto Wallet”. Through it it is convenient to withdraw the won funds and buy new tickets.

You can check the winnings in several ways, depending on the type of tickets purchased. They are typographic (these are the usual options printed on paper) and electronic. The latter can be purchased not only on the website, but also at Stoloto sales points or supermarkets in the form of lottery coupons - in this case, the seller will ask for the participant’s phone number.

You can check your winnings in several ways:

1. In your account on Stoloto.ru in the My Tickets section. All tickets linked to a phone number are collected here.

2. In the mobile application "Stoloto". Like on the site, winning tickets are collected here in a separate category.

3. By SMS. This option is suitable for situations where you left a phone number when buying a lottery ticket. If you win, information about this will come automatically.

4. In a Telegram chat with the Stoloto bot. In this way, you can check both printed and electronic tickets. Here you need to go to the main menu and click on "Results of draws" or "Check ticket".

5. At the point of sale. You need to present a ticket, and the seller will check the winnings. Or you can call the draw number to find out the winning numbers.

6. On Lotonews. This is the official website of state lotteries in Russia, where you can find the results of any draw.

7. On the Stoloto website. This option is suitable for printed tickets that are not tied to a phone number.

Were you lucky to win? Hooray, it remains only to collect the prize! How exactly to do this depends on its amount.

Winnings up to 600,000 rubles can be received in cash, to the Stoloto electronic wallet or by bank transfer to a bank account. To collect a prize over 15,000 rubles, you need to go through identification at one of the points of sale. To receive a win on an electronic ticket, just go to your personal account on the website or in the application and click on the "Get Prize" button in the "My Tickets" section or contact the distributor. When buying a printed version, the winnings can only be received at the point of sale, so you need to keep the ticket itself - without it, the money simply will not be issued.

If the prize is more than 600,000, then the money can only be transferred to a bank account. To get such a win, you need to come to the Stoloto lottery center in Moscow with a package of necessary documents or undergo mandatory identification at one of the points of sale, and send the documents by mail.