As the world’s biggest and most populated continent, Asia tends to have plenty of lottery games. In many countries, lotteries are a major form of recreation and some people play them to believe in fate or karma. Others simply enjoy playing for the sheer thrill of it all. Regardless of the reasons, Asia has a huge range of excellent lottery games to choose from.

A Chinese man’s recent lottery win is drawing attention because his winning numbers were based on the birth dates of himself and his family members. The number combination has the potential to earn him more than 77 million yuan, according to local media reports. The Jiangxi Daily News said the winner, who was not named, has been buying lottery tickets regularly for more than five years. He typically buys three to four tickets a week, sometimes with the same numbers.

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, lottery sales have been surging in China, with young players particularly keen to try their luck. The government has introduced trendier games and boosted distribution, with sports lottery stands set up in shopping malls and vending machines across the country. An employee at a Shanghai sports lottery stand says she has seen a dramatic increase in business this year.

But as the global economy stalls and the youth jobless rate hits record highs, some people question whether it’s possible to strike it lucky again. The latest lottery results have sparked a debate over the nature of randomness and its relation to human chance. The thorny issue is sure to spark more controversy and confusion in the future.