The Laos Lottery is an exciting way for people to test their luck. From small prizes to larger cash sums, winning can have dramatic ramifications on life – many use winnings from lottery draws to supplement incomes or invest in children’s education or start new businesses – some even use it to realize long-held dreams! But regardless of its use or purpose, lottery draws remain an integral part of national culture and provide hope in an otherwise impoverished country like Laos.
Though the government makes efforts to keep its lottery fair, allegations of rigged results have become commonplace. Many Lao citizens suspect lottery officials manipulate winning numbers so as to avoid paying out large sums of money, including selecting numbers that are rarely chosen by Laotians like 67 which appeared three consecutive drawings last month and other numbers like 09 which vanish from tickets before reappearing as winners shortly before drawing day, according to one lottery seller in Vientiane.
Lottery officials deny these allegations, yet numerous allegations regarding its integrity have surfaced over time. As a response, the government has taken measures to improve transparency by ordering that legal state lottery reduce its drawing times from two per week to just once and take measures for improved accountability. Furthermore, informal football lotteries and lottery chances sold via short messaging services have been discontinued.
Concerns have also been expressed over the weight of lottery balls used for draws. Some players have complained that heavier balls fall more easily into holes due to their greater mass, however Vilasack Phommaluck, the chairman of the lottery committee has dismissed these allegations by noting that even heavy balls must be weighed to ensure the correct amount is distributed among winners.
Issues surrounding Lao lottery companies stem from them being family members of state officials who dominate it, as these business interests have an incentive to keep its results secret as this could bring more money in return for keeping quiet about it. As such, public oversight becomes difficult; therefore for any wrongdoing to be identified or held to account by anyone. In order to regain control of its lottery operations again, however, stronger regulations on these private businesses that run it must be implemented and this will ensure it operates fairly and lawfully.
