Xia Rattanakone, a Laotian woman raised in the United States by her American adoptive parents, plans to donate part of a $55 million lottery jackpot she and her husband won to family in Laos. The couple, who also plan to retire from their jobs as an aide and a temporary worker respectively, hope the money will help them reconnect with their birth family and search for their relatives who still live in the country they left behind.
But while the lottery offers a unique cultural spectacle that captures the human fascination with luck and fortune, it is essential to remember its nature as a form of gambling and play responsibly, aware that the scales of fate can tip both ways, leading to unforeseen gains or financial strain. While it is not illegal for people to participate in the lottery, it is highly discouraged and there are a number of laws aimed at reducing participation and ensuring that it is conducted under control.
Lotteries first took hold in the 18th century when they were used to fund religious congregations. By the middle of that decade, they had become a major source of revenue for the French monarchy. But the amount of money involved soon sparked debate over whether or not they violated the law. Montreal’s mayor said the lottery was a “voluntary tax” that did not contravene provincial law, while the minister of justice disagreed and called it illegal.
In Laos, the government has taken steps to regulate the lottery industry by limiting drawings and requiring more transparency in the handling of winnings, sources told RFA’s Lao Service. But it is unclear when those measures will take effect. The office of prime minister Thongloun Sisoulith issued a directive on Aug. 17 requesting the Ministry of Finance, which oversees the country’s legal state lottery, to work with the ministry of public security on the issue.
