Lotteries are an enjoyable pastime in Laos and other nations worldwide, drawing in people looking for cash prizes through various lotteries. While considered gambling, the government has established legal provisions to regulate this industry and is currently investigating allegations of lottery fraud that have led to sales dropping significantly.
Laos offers thousands of people the chance to test their luck at winning large sums through its national lottery three times each week, with live drawing results shown either on television or at local bars and restaurants. According to its company, over 200,000 registered members participate every month with nearly $6 Million turnover reported monthly.
Prior to 2011, Laos’ lottery company would arrange for foreign companies to sell lotteries within its borders; however, after controversy surrounding this arrangement arose over its legitimacy, this practice was discontinued. Lottery officials further claimed that any income generated by foreign firms wasn’t legally taxable under Laos law and thus wasn’t reported by these foreign firms to tax authorities.
The winning ticket number was 509, representing good luck in Lao culture as signified by its place on their calendar. Critics claim it may have been fixed as it came up four times consecutively as being chosen as the winning number.
Vientiane residents have begun to speculate that lottery officials are manipulating numbers to reduce payouts and limit losses. Drawing results often display numbers which have already been purchased or are considered unlucky and unlikely to be chosen; furthermore, some residents claim that the weight distribution between balls used for drawing may not be proper as some balls weigh more than others and thus fall faster into their holes when dropped.
RFA spoke with an official from the Finance Ministry who serves on the Lottery Steering Committee and said changes had been made to address concerns over its integrity. For example, one such change will involve reducing drawings from twice weekly to once every week, with results broadcast live on television. He added that the ministry will impose stricter penalties against illegal lottery operators, making their activities easier to monitor. First time offenders will be educated on the law and issued an official warning, while repeat offenders will be fined 50 percent of the value of their illegal lotteries and have their printing equipment confiscated. Whoever is caught for the third time will be punished according to local laws. Despite widespread criticism, Laos lottery remains an enormously popular activity – estimated by experts to include more than half the population regularly taking part. Unfortunately, however, participation rates among young people who prefer other forms of entertainment is declining rapidly – with government hoping reforms can boost future lottery participation numbers and bring in additional revenues.