The Laos Lottery is a national tradition, a social leveller and for many, a glimmer of hope. Its results send ripples of excitement across the country, as thousands of people check their tickets and their hearts beat faster in anticipation of finding out if they are the lucky winners. Some use their winnings to bolster household incomes, while others invest it in starting small businesses or pursuing dreams they never had before. But for most, the lottery is more than a simple pastime – it’s a way of life.
But the thrice-weekly national lottery in this communist country of just over six million inhabitants is not without its controversies. Lottery officials are accused of rigging the system to avoid large pay-outs. Drawings often feature numbers that vanish from purchased tickets, or that are deemed unlucky, such as the number 367, which is associated with the turtle, a creature believed to bring bad luck.
Other suspicions are swirling around the lottery after the same four lucky numbers – 11 for dogs, 02 for shells, 20 for pork and 33 for centipedes – appeared in the lottery for four consecutive months. These numbers have special significance in Lao culture, where the animal kingdom is intertwined with the mystical aura of numbers.
Laos’ deputy finance minister and state lottery supervisor Sila Viengkeo denied any wrongdoing, saying the rules are transparent and that he will not tolerate any alleged violations. But critics argue that a lack of oversight is undermining the integrity of the lottery.
There are also allegations that the companies responsible for running the lottery are influenced by members of the ruling elite. A caller to RFA told the news outlet that the majority of the business interests that run the lottery have connections to the nation’s top leaders. This is a key reason why the government should return to control of the lottery.
A spokesperson for the Laos National Lottery Company told RFA that some changes have already been made to address complaints of irregularities in previous draws. He said the company is considering reducing the number of drawings from three to one time per week in order to help restore faith in the lottery.
Naga Market is a free app for the Android mobile platform designed to offer lottery customers quick and convenient access to the latest information on the Laos Lottery. Users can easily find lottery results, claim lottery bills, and locate lottery claims centers through the app’s user interface. Its development and launch are the result of collaboration between the Lao National Lottery and New Concept Consulting.
To download the application, go to the Google Play listing for your device and tap on the Install button. You will be prompted with a list of permissions that the Laos Lottery app requires to function, and you should accept all of them. Once the installation is complete, you will receive a notification that the app has been successfully installed on your device.
