Located in the heart of Southeast Asia, the small nation of Laos is known for its mountainous terrain, French colonial architecture, hill tribe settlements, and Buddhist monasteries. But tucked away in the country’s midst is an unexpected cornerstone that binds its communities together – a national lottery. Every October 23 the results of the lottery draw are announced, stirring ripples of anticipation throughout the country. For those who partake, the lottery is more than a game of chance, it’s a social leveller, a source of hope, and an unassuming yet deeply-rooted part of the Lao people’s culture.
The Laos lotto has a rich cultural tapestry, combining sequences of numbers with traditional beliefs and symbols, creating an intriguing blend of luck and faith. This is evident in the way that some of the lucky numbers, such as 11 (dog), 07 (pork), 20 (centipede) and 02 (shells), carry a special meaning for the players. Similarly, the numbers of the animals such as crab (20), weasel (21) and snake (33) represent certain aspects of the human body.
While many of these beliefs have been discarded with the modernization of the nation, the lottery continues to be a major contributor to the local economy, contributing some $1 billion in income each year. It is also a key source of funding for the country’s religious orders. In fact, it was because of the growing needs of the church that the Laos lottery was first created in 1822 to raise funds for the construction and repair of 15 churches.
But the lottery is not without its critics, with some citing irregularities and lack of transparency. On August 17, Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith sent a directive to the Ministry of Finance to work with the police in order to improve the state lottery’s operations. He ordered that drawing times be reduced to one a week and that the handling of winnings be done in a more transparent manner. A spokesman for the ministry told RFA that allegations of illegal activities involving the lottery are not true.
