The national lottery is more than just a game for the people of Laos. It is a social leveller, a source of hope and, most importantly, an integral part of their shared cultural heritage. The announcement of the latest results sends ripples of excitement across the country as lottery players check their tickets, hoping to be the lucky winners.
The history of the lottery dates back to the 18th century in France, where it was used as a means to fund religious congregations. Over time, the lottery became so successful that it eventually generated larger sums than the church was able to collect from its members. This sparked a fierce battle between the monarchy and the Catholic Church for control of the lottery.
After winning the lottery, Xia Rattanakone, who was raised in an orphanage in the turbulent 1960s and ’70s, plans to donate some of her prize money to help those she left behind in Laos. “I’m going to give it back to the people who helped raise me,” she said. “They deserve a little bit of my luck.”
But not everyone is so thrilled about the lottery’s role in their country. Some believe that lottery officials are rigging the system, manipulating winning numbers to avoid paying large pay-outs. For instance, the number 09 disappeared from purchased tickets before the recent drawing, and only reappeared on a few minutes prior to the draw, a source told RFA’s Lao Service.
Other sources have claimed that private business interests run the lottery and pay a concession fee to the government each year for the privilege. However, the government has not disclosed how much this money is or who is responsible for its oversight.
