Amid rugged mountains and verdant plains, the nation of Laos nurtures a unique tradition – the lottery. More than just numerical luck, the lottery weaves the mystical aura of animal symbols into its system, creating a captivating cultural spectacle that captures the human fascination with fortune and fortuitous gains. But even as we revel in the thrill of the game, we must remember its nature as a form of gambling and remain cognizant that the scales of luck could tilt either way.
A woman who grew up in an orphanage and now runs her own successful company said she will give part of her $55 million lottery jackpot to her Laotian relatives who raised her as their daughter. Xia Rattanakone and her husband plan to retire from their jobs, his as an aide in Seattle public schools and hers as a temporary worker at Nintendo of America, and travel to Laos to find the family they left behind in the turbulent 1960s and ’70s.
In the 18th century, France’s national lottery was a major source of revenue for religious congregations, and helped build or rebuild about 15 churches in Paris, including St. Sulpice and Le Pantheon. The amount of money generated was so great, however, that the King began to compete with religious orders for control of the lottery.
Today, there are state-run lotteries in more than 70 countries worldwide. The United Kingdom has the National Lottery, which includes the games Lotto, Thunderball, and Set for Life, as well as the Health Lottery. Turkey’s Milli Piyango offers several games including Cilgin Sayisal Loto (6/90), Sans Topu (5/34) and On Numara (/5/34 + 1/14). The Dominican Republic’s Loteria Internacional del Domingo operates several lotteries. Australia has state lotteries in each of its states and territories, as well as a national game, Lotto, which is operated by Tatts Group.
