Laos lotto draws often feature feline symbols as winning numbers, sparking suspicion that officials rigging the system to avoid large payouts. According to sources close to RFA’s Lao Service, Thailand-based Insee Trading Company runs their national lottery and thus knows exactly which numbers people select; its executives use this knowledge to manipulate it accordingly.
Cheng Saephan, 46-year-old Laotian immigrant living in Oregon for 30 years and winner of last month’s $1.3 billion Powerball jackpot prize announced plans to divide it among his wife Duanpen and friend who helped purchase tickets at $100 a piece.
After taxes, they will receive a lump sum payout of $422 million after expenses. The winner credited his success to prayers; some of this money may also be used for missionary work in Thailand, Laos and possibly China.
Some players have suggested that the lottery company be taken out of government control. A former state official who keeps close tabs on it told RFA that companies involved are run by individuals with connections to the ruling elite, while Vilasack Phommaluck of Finance Ministry’s Lottery Committee dismissed these allegations; instead stating that blocking or not selling certain numbers wasn’t his purview and other changes are being considered, such as cutting back to one drawing per week.
