In Laos, a nation that is still emerging from war and poverty, the lottery is more than a simple pastime. It’s a social leveller, a national tradition, and for many people, a glimmer of hope. Roughly a quarter of the population partakes in the national lottery, and each October 23 announcement sparks excitement nationwide. For those who are lucky enough to win, the prize is a means of bolstering their incomes or even starting a business. For those who don’t, a sense of camaraderie still prevails as they check their tickets and await the next announcement.
Despite these benefits, lottery officials are accused of rigging the system. Drawings often show numbers that have not been purchased and a number that has already been chosen, sources in the capital Vientiane tell RFA’s Lao Service. And in addition, the winning numbers sometimes vanish from purchased tickets. This year, for example, the winning number 509 appeared only as a 5 on tickets bought throughout the day of the drawing.
The lottery has long been a source of controversy, and in the 18th century, it became one of the main sources of funding for church congregations in Paris. By the 19th century, lottery revenues had become so enormous that they created a major struggle between the monarchy and the church for control. In the 1960s, Montreal mayor Jean Drapeau imposed a so-called voluntary tax on lottery sales to fund religious services. Although this was eventually ruled illegal by the Quebec Court, lotteries continued to be popular in Canada, with players from all over the world.
Dearest Sister is an original film from a Lao director who lives in California but maintains a strong connection to her ancestor’s homeland. Her script, which combines superstitious premise with class critique and psychological horror, is better than most Thai films released each year.
To download the Laos Lottery, go to the Google Play store and search for “Lotto.” Once you’ve found the app, tap the Install button. A pop-up window will ask for your permissions. Once you’ve agreed, the app will be downloaded and installed to your device, showing a progress bar until it’s finished. After that, you’ll receive a notification letting you know when the app is ready to use. The app is designed for Android version 4.4 and up.
