Amid a world of soaring inequality, the lottery has become more than a way for Laos to reaffirm their belief in chance – it is a social leveller, a national tradition and for many, a source of hope. Each announcement sends ripples of excitement across the country, as people check their tickets and await the results with hearts pounding. For some, winning the lottery is a catalyst for change, enabling them to bolster their household incomes or start small businesses. But for others, it’s simply a source of financial relief from a life of hardship and poverty.
Lottery officials in Laos are rigging the system to avoid large payouts, sources in the Southeast Asian nation tell RFA. Drawings often show numbers that suddenly vanish from purchased tickets or are deemed unlucky, they say. For example, on Oct. 14 this year, the winning number 509 appeared only as a five on purchased tickets throughout the day of the drawing, despite widespread demand for that particular number. The number was later changed to 134 only an hour before the drawing, RFA’s source said.
Another concern about the lottery in Laos is that the state-owned companies behind it have close ties to members of the ruling elite, including family members of former Prime Minister Thongsing. A lottery official who spoke on condition of anonymity told RFA that the majority of the business interests behind the Laos lottery have links to a top government official, and there is no public disclosure of how much the companies pay for the annual concession to operate the lottery.
Although the lottery is a popular pastime in Laos, it is important to remember that it is a form of gambling and can be a source of financial strain. To keep the fun in perspective, it is essential to remember that the prize money is not guaranteed, and the odds of winning are extremely slim. It is also a good idea to use the internet to look at reviews of various lottery ticket selling companies, as this can help you decide which one is best for you.
To download the Laos Lottery app to your device, open the Google Play listing on your phone or tablet and click the Install button. A pop-up window showing the permissions needed to run the app will appear; click on Accept. Once the app is downloaded, you can begin playing immediately. The Laos Lottery app is free to download. But please be aware that downloading the app may cause data usage. If you are concerned about the amount of data the app will consume, you can change the app’s settings to limit its data usage. The app is compatible with Android devices running version 4.4 or higher. It is also compatible with the iPad and iPod touch. The app is available in English, French, and Spanish. In addition, the app is available for mobile browsers as well. This means that anyone can play the Laos Lottery on their mobile device.
