A communist state best known for its mountainous terrain, hill tribe settlements, French colonial architecture, and Buddhist monasteries, Laos is home to a cultural fixture that unites the nation: a lottery. But the state-run lottery isn’t exactly transparent. According to Lao sources, lottery officials manipulate winning numbers to avoid large pay-outs, a practice that is also common in other countries with state lotteries, such as Turkey and Venezuela.
In Laos, the national lottery is known as the Milli Piyango and draws three times a week. But the results of the drawing are often rigged and can’t be trusted, a source in the capital Vientiane told Radio Free Asia (RFA). For example, the number 09 was supposed to be the winner of the Oct. 14 drawing, but it mysteriously vanished from tickets purchased throughout the day of the draw, and was replaced by a number deemed to be unlucky. The number’s availability was restored just an hour before the scheduled drawing, the source said.
The state-owned company responsible for running the lottery, the Laos Lottery Association, did not respond to a request for comment. But a Lao state official speaking on condition of anonymity told RFA that the lottery’s operation is plagued with corruption and bribery, with private business interests involved in the syndicate’s work. The official added that the state is preparing to audit the lottery’s operations and to investigate the extent of the alleged graft.
Buying lottery tickets in Laos is a complicated process. It is not advertised anywhere online and people have to purchase a ticket in person at the Lottery offices in the country’s various cities. Once they do, their names are entered into a database that is used to select the winners of the lottery. The person who buys the ticket first is given the chance to win, followed by the second and so on. Those who have already won are not eligible to participate again in the lottery.
To buy a lottery ticket, the buyer must sign his or her name on the bottom of the form. The form also includes a small map showing where the lottery office is located. The seller must be present to sell the ticket.
Laos lotto is a popular lottery in the region, with many players. It is available in a variety of languages, including English and Vietnamese. The game is similar to other popular games in Europe and the United States, with several options for players to choose from. The lottery game is played by millions of people worldwide, and the winnings can be used for any purpose. Some players prefer to use their lottery winnings to help others with financial difficulties. Other people use the money to help fund religious congregations and other organizations. In addition, many people like to use their winnings to fund vacations or other special purchases. Some even use their winnings to help support family members who are struggling. While some people believe that they should be allowed to use their winnings for whatever they want, other people feel that it is unfair to let them do so.
