For many in Laos, the lottery is more than a game. It is a social leveller, a national tradition, and for many it offers a glimpse of hope. With the announcement of each draw, people gather together to check their tickets with hearts pounding in anticipation, hoping they might be one of the lucky winners. The money they win can help support families, start businesses, or put toward their children’s education. It can also give them a leg up on the economic ladder in a country where opportunities are scarce.
Lottery officials in the communist nation are rigging the system, manipulating winning numbers to avoid large pay-outs, sources tell RFA’s Lao Service. The infamous bogus number 09 has appeared as a 5 on tickets sold throughout the country, while other numbers such as 02 and 07 are deemed unlucky and rarely appear on winning tickets. In addition, there have been reports of corrupt practices in the country’s state-owned company which manages the lottery.
The company, Insee Trading Company, has been accused of ripping off ticket buyers by selling duplicate tickets and putting out fake results. In an attempt to bolster sales, the company has been offering free tickets, but this has only served to erode trust in the organization.
A woman who grew up in an orphanage and won a $55 million jackpot says she plans to use part of the money to return to her native Laos to search for her birth family. Xia Rattanakone and her husband also plan to open a community center in their home town and give back to the place that made them who they are.
Dearest Sister is a well-made Lao film that spins the supernatural premise of ghosts that give out lotto jackpots into class critique and psychological horror. It’s a more engrossing and interesting film than any Thai production of the same genre, and it’s a solid entry into Southeast Asian cinema.
