In Laos, the lottery is more than just a game of numbers. It is a national tradition, a social leveler, and a source of hope for many in this mountainous, French-influenced Southeast Asian country where economic opportunities can be scarce. Every announcement of the results sends ripples of excitement across the nation, and tickets bearing lucky numbers are sold in droves – each one representing a chance for financial gains that can help bolster family incomes or start small businesses, among other things.
But the country’s legal state lottery is plagued with corruption, sources in the communist nation tell RFA’s Lao Service. Lottery officials are rigging the system in order to avoid large pay-outs, and the drawings themselves are not being conducted in an unbiased manner. Winners are often chosen for numbers that disappear from purchased tickets, or that are deemed unlucky and unlikely to be drawn, sources say.
The problem is so severe that the office of the prime minister recently sent a directive asking the ministry that oversees the state lottery to work with the ministry of public security to improve the situation. Drawings must be reduced from two to one per week, and winnings should be handled more transparently. Additionally, informal football lotteries and lottery chances sold through short messaging services will be prohibited.
Despite the concerns, the state lottery is still popular in Laos, and the number of winners is increasing rapidly. It is important to remember, however, that the lottery is a form of gambling and should be used responsibly. The thrill of winning must be tempered with the knowledge that the scales of luck can tilt either way, and participants should always take into account their own resources before playing.
In addition to the official state lottery, there are a number of private business interests that offer chance games. They have a significant impact on the lottery’s operation, and they should be regulated in accordance with the law. The government should not let private business interests control the national lottery, which is an integral part of the country’s culture and heritage.
The lottery is also a major source of revenue for the government, and it helps to support other ministries, the treasury, the army, and the police. The proceeds are used for a variety of purposes, from constructing roads and schools to funding the country’s health care system and other social welfare programs.
A woman who grew up in a Laotian orphanage and later immigrated to the United States plans to donate some of her $55 million jackpot to the people who raised her. Xia Rattanakone and her husband plan to spend the rest of the money traveling and looking for her birth family in their home country. Xia also hopes to use her winnings to open a small restaurant in Laos. If they find her birth parents, she and her husband intend to establish a foundation for them. They are not alone in their quest to find their roots in Laos.
