The country of Laos lies in the heart of Southeast Asia, a nation that may be better known for its mountainous terrain, hill tribe settlements, and Buddhist monasteries. But it’s also a place where one slice of life pulses rhythmically, a cultural fixture that unites the entire population – the national lottery.
But the lottery is not entirely without controversy, with some critics alleging that the government has rigged the system to prevent large pay-outs. Officials in the communist nation are accused of tampering with results and manipulating drawings to ensure that winning numbers are not picked, sources say. For example, on Oct. 14 this year the winning number 509 suddenly vanished from purchased tickets, while numbers that have been deemed unlucky appear frequently.
Another complaint centers around the fact that the country’s state-run lottery is not as open and transparent as other lotteries in other countries. For instance, the state-run Bulgarian Sports Totalizator only sells its tickets at authorized locations and does not offer online sales or a mobile app. In addition, its official website is only available in the country’s official language, making it difficult for people living abroad to purchase tickets.
Despite these criticisms, the lottery remains popular among Laotians and provides a steady source of revenue for many state-run programs. In addition to the national lottery, the country has provincial lotteries, as well as state games operated by private companies. The country is also a member of the European Lottery Association. The European Lottery Association oversees the operations of member lotteries and promotes responsible gaming.
