Hanoi Lotto has become an integral part of Vietnamese culture and society, popular with all age groups and income levels alike. People from all walks of life play this form of gambling that generates revenue for social causes and infrastructure development – though as with any form of entertainment it should be played responsibly. Operated by Vietnam Lottery Company under Ministry of Finance regulations that issue point-of-sale licenses to authorized retailers; daily Keno games as well as traditional lottery are available online versions are played regularly by millions.
A lottery ticket costs VND 10,000 and players select six numbers between 1-45 or use Quick Pick to select random numbers; with each draw, the jackpot prize increases until it’s won. Furthermore, local lotterie companies should provide attractive promotions and bonuses in order to attract more customers.
Lottery profits are put towards supporting initiatives in Vietnam such as healthcare and public services, with over 200,000 individuals employed within this industry, such as lottery agents, employees of state-owned enterprises and vendors selling tickets on the street.
According to the Council, lottery businesses in southern Vietnam remained stable and experienced high growth despite socio-economic uncertainties, with total revenues exceeding VND12 trillion ($513 million). This success can be attributed to increased ticket sales, higher lottery prize amounts, and growing consumer trust in this vital industry which contributes significantly to social welfare initiatives while supporting economic development of this region.
Vietnamese lottery success has seen the proliferation of illegal gambling operators who operate unofficial games that often compete with the official lotteries, drawing players away and leading to lost revenues for governments. Many illegal operators are children whose sales revenue goes towards paying school fees or purchasing food.
At one time, young children could easily sell lottery tickets on the streets, but after the Covid-19 pandemic hit they were forced to stop due to fears they might expose themselves or customers passing them to Covid-19 virus. Yet some still dreamt of making money and have begun stealing or beggign for tickets in order to fulfill this ambition.
Before she ventures out to sell lottery tickets on the street, Tran Thi Le carefully packs her Covid negative test and proof of vaccination into her fanny pack. Every day – no matter the weather – she covers approximately 10 kilometers to find buyers for lottery ticket sales. While she knows her profits may not be as great, selling lottery tickets instead of other items on the streets makes more financial sense than trying other ventures on her own.