Lotto enthusiasts were on tenterhooks as they eagerly anticipated the results of today’s Lao Lotto draw, broadcast live online. Participants remained engaged as they crossed-referenced their tickets against the official numbers in hope of being lucky enough to win big.
Laos has long enjoyed the popularity of lotteries, with state control of most public enterprises including an interest in its lottery business. As part of that stake, state-owned lotteries have become an invaluable source of income for religious congregations with monks and clergy as the biggest winners; additionally they have helped finance construction or rebuilding efforts at several Paris churches.
One aspect that has drawn increasing scrutiny to public enterprises has been their legitimacy, with increasing calls for reform to fight corruption and to distribute profits more fairly among their local populations. Concern has also been expressed over how profits of state-owned companies are distributed amongst population segments based on needs.
The government of Thailand recently increased lottery drawings from two to three days per week in an attempt to promote employment and generate revenue for the nation. Finance Minister Bounchom Ubonpaseuth supported this move, saying it will help improve both their finances as well as provide assistance for poor communities.
Laos currently boasts two lotteries: one run by the National Lottery Administration and one managed by Milli Piyango company. Both offer four-digit lottery (4D) games as well as scratch cards – matching all four numbers can bring up to six million kip in winnings while matching just three could bring back an astonishing 60x return for just 1,000 Kip invested!
In Quebec City, where Montreal Mayor Lionel Drapeau challenged a voluntary tax on lotto tickets through legal channels, lottery play has at times caused consternation among residents. Yet despite such challenges, Quebec Lottery has managed to avoid legal disputes while simultaneously increasing tourism and revenue generation for Quebec provincial government.
