Lotteries are a popular source of income in many countries. They are also a way for people to play games that they otherwise might not have the time or money to play. In the United States, there are several types of lotteries, including state-run and private ones. In addition, there are a number of online lotteries, which offer a variety of games to people around the world. These games can be played through websites, mobile apps and video lottery terminals (VLTs).
The first modern lottery was started in France in 1505. Lotteries were forbidden for two centuries before they reappeared as public lotteries for Paris and for religious orders, such as the Sisters of Charity. In Canada, they were legalized in 1967 when the federal Liberal government introduced a special law (an Omnibus Bill) to update obsolete laws and included an amendment concerning lotteries.
Private business interests have taken over the management of Laos’ national lottery and are rigging the system to avoid paying out large jackpots, sources tell RFA’s Lao Service. Drawings in the communist nation, which take place three times a week, often show numbers that vanish from purchased tickets or are deemed unlucky and unlikely to be chosen. For example, on Oct. 14 this year the winning number—509—appeared only as 5 on tickets sold throughout the day, but showed up only as 9 in the final drawing.
A former Lao lottery employee who requested anonymity told RFA that a number of companies responsible for the national lottery have connections to government officials and wealthy families. He said that he was disappointed that the government had given control of the lottery to private business interests. He added that the businesses are not transparent, and people cannot trust them.
This talk will explore the politics of gambling in Laos since 1975, as a state enterprise and as a moral activity, and ask whether the lottery helps shed light on the nature of Lao state enterprises generally. The presenter, Dr. Charles Zuckerman, is a linguistic anthropologist who has done ethnographic research in Luang Prabang. His doctoral work focused on gender and the moral dimensions of gambling in Laos.
He will also discuss what he has learned from conducting his fieldwork about how lotteries work on the ground and what they mean for people who buy tickets and choose their numbers. The talk will be based on his forthcoming book, “Lottery in Laos: A History of a Moral Enterprise.” This event is free and open to the public. Registration will be available soon through Eventbrite. Please follow TAEC on Eventbrite to receive notification when registration opens. This event will be in English with audio translation. For more information about this and other TAEC events, visit our website at http://taec.org/events/.