Lottery officials in the communist nation of Laos are rigging the system, manipulating winning numbers in order to avoid large pay-outs. Drawings in the country’s national lottery, which take place three times each week, often show numbers that vanish from purchased tickets or are deemed unlucky and unlikely to be chosen, sources tell RFA’s Lao Service. In one example, the winning number 509 in the Oct. 14 drawing appeared only as five on the tickets sold throughout the day of the draw, despite large demand for the number. The same occurred in a previous drawing.

The rigged lottery games are often facilitated by local gambling ringleaders, who collect and distribute funds from ticket purchasers. The ringleaders can then use the money to finance other illegal activities, such as prostitution and drugs. The ringleaders also sell tickets for the official state lottery and other private lotteries. They may even sell tickets for a variety of Internet-based games, including instant lottery games, such as Keno. Some of these Internet lotteries are run by companies based in the United States and Canada, such as GTech Corporation, a Rhode Island-based company that administers 70% of worldwide online lottery sales.

Many of these Internet lotteries are scams, and some people have lost tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars. However, some people have won big prizes and have become wealthy. These stories have been reported in the media in the United States and Canada. They have led to an increasing public debate about whether Internet lotteries are a good or bad idea.

In addition to state-run lotteries, there are private ones in countries like Switzerland, Liechtenstein, and the Isle of Man. The International Lottery Foundation (ILLF) pioneered Internet gaming, launching the world’s first online lottery, PLUS Lotto, in 1995. Its websites and services are operated under the ILLF brands, which include loteriasonline, EuroMillions, and Health Lottery. The ILLF supports charitable projects and organizations domestically and internationally.

While the government does not block access to bookmakers, there is still little regulation on the country’s gambling sector, especially online. Nonetheless, there is an abundance of reputable bookies that are accessible to Laotians. Furthermore, there appears to be no law framework around gambling in Laos, so it is hard for the government to monitor and regulate this industry. Hence, it is best to stick to legal bookies in Laos. Moreover, players should know that the odds of winning are very low, so they should not be discouraged. However, it is important to note that there are certain rules that must be followed.