The lottery is a national tradition in Laos, and more than just a game of chance. It is a social leveller and for many a beacon of hope. Each announcement of the results sends ripples across the nation as people check their tickets, hearts pounding in anticipation, hoping that they are the lucky winners. Many use their winnings to bolster their household income, or to invest in their children’s education. For others, it is a way to build a small business or put money towards their dreams.
There are a number of lotteries in the world, operated by state governments or private companies. Some are state run and include the popular games like Lotto and Thunderball, while others are privately owned, such as the Australian Health Lottery and Chile’s Intralot. The largest is the National Lottery of the United Kingdom, which operates several state games including EuroMillions and Set for Life. The government of the Isle of Man also runs a national lottery called The National Lottery, and the Republic of Ireland operates the Irish National Lottery and the Health Lottery.
Lotteries are a common form of taxation in the United States and many European countries, and are often referred to as the ‘voluntary’ tax. Despite the ongoing debate over whether they are legal, most citizens participate in them, and they generate substantial amounts of revenue for both local and federal governments.
In the 18th century, lottery revenues were so high that they were used to fund religious congregations, and there was a resulting struggle between the monarchy and the church for control of the games. While the game’s reliance on numbers has decreased in recent decades, it remains a central part of Lao culture and society.
The Laos Lottery is a complex interplay of numbers and cultural symbols, reflecting the country’s diverse heritage and the human fascination with luck and fortune. But while the game is a celebration of Laotian culture, it’s not without its dark side. The game embodies the country’s tragic history, and its winning combinations often spell out the names of exiled political prisoners or those who died in the Vietnam War.
Dearest Sister is the first feature film directed by Mattie Do, an American-Laotian director who lives in Los Angeles but maintains a strong connection to her homeland (and speaks fluent Lao). The movie stars Amphaiphun Phimmapunya and Vilouna Phetmany as Nok and Ana, two cousins who both have an uncanny knack for buying lottery tickets.
