I don't see how the U.S. could be sponsoring the lottery, though. My understanding is that the U.S. is generally willing to receive Cuban emigrants at all times, while Cuba places severe restrictions on emigration. If this is the case, then the obstacle to emigration would be the Cuban government, not the U.S. government; so it seems to me that winning a U.S.-sponsered lottery would be useless if the Cuban government didn't want the winner to emigrate. The decision is ultimately Cuba's to make; therefore it makes more sense that the lottery would be sponsored by Cuba.
That's how it seems to me, anyway. It's really an oddball thing, isn't it? Why do you think the Cuban government would allow such a lottery? My theory is that it likes having the dollars that the emigrants send back home. But what bad PR! What an admission that all is far from well in the workers' paradise.
This resulted in "The Migration Accords." One of the clauses of the Accords was the Lottery. This was done with the full compliance of the Cuban government. Once a Cuban's name was selected, the Cuban government issued an exit visa for the lucky soul.
At the time, my wife, daughter and I were living in house right on the water in the suburb of Miramar. Usually there was a heavy police presence because of the many foreigners living there. During the Crisis, we saw hide nor hair of the cops or the soldiers. The would-be immigrants came marching up 30th Street, with their families and friends, carrying their craft. We mingled with the Cubans on the beach, advising them that if they were caught at sea, they'd be repatriated. Most of them scoffed and said, "yeah, right. We'll be in Miami in six weeks." Turns out they were right.
Anyway, yardstick, that's the story of The Lottery. AX