Thousands of Laotians participate in their national lottery, but some are beginning to question its fairness. Drawings show numbers that vanish from purchased tickets or are seen by players as unlucky; one instance even had its winning number mysteriously change an hour prior to its draw! For instance, on Oct 14 the symbolism of 509 cat was eliminated from winning tickets leaving some to speculate that lottery officials are trying to reduce payouts through manipulation of game.
Laos lotterie draws three times every week and keeps participants on edge as they compare their entries with official results. But according to those following the game, allegations of rigging aren’t the only obstacle facing participants and those interested in the lotto game.
Many have voiced concerns that lottery gambling promotes addiction to gambling, leading to an increase in illegal lotteries offering lucrative prizes. As a response, the Lao government responded with a crackdown on illegal lotteries offering lucrative prizes while being unable to control legal lotteries running legally. Furthermore, foreign-branded lottery products were banned but did not apply to land-based casinos located within Special Economic Zones across the country; Lao government hopes that this change may help prevent profitable land-based casinos from becoming too profitable and leading to increased illegal lotteries being run legally by legitimate lottery operatorss running legal lotteries offering lucrative prizes that lead to increases in illegal lotteries running legal.
Although the official lottery company manages legal lotteries, private companies handle scratch cards and instant games in Laos. Many of these businesses are owned by individuals with strong connections to ruling elite, with profits flowing directly into private bank accounts for personal enrichment or siphoned off into personal bank accounts as personal enrichment; according to sources with RFA’s Lao Service this money makes up a substantial part of total revenues and may lead to corruption.
Concerns have been expressed over Thailand’s lottery HQ knowing which numbers people select and thus being able to manipulate the results. This was highlighted earlier this year when 367 was chosen as the winning number in a drawing, which many associate with an animal considered unlucky: turtle. As a result, its steering committee voted in response for two drawings per week instead.
Vilasack Phommaluck, an official with the Finance Ministry who serves on the lottery steering committee, dismissed these accusations. While decreasing the number of drawings may make it easier to keep an eye on results and show them live, he said the committee lacks the power to block certain numbers from being sold and double-checks weight of lottery balls to ensure equal size distribution. He noted that revenues have dropped threefold since public disagreement about legal games being played and winning amounts had arisen earlier in 2016.
