Lotteries are an immensely popular pastime both within Laos and globally. People enjoy participating for the chance of winning big prizes; however, allegations have surfaced suggesting that certain lotteries may be fixed, leading to numerous complaints from players who believe the system is unfair; many players have accused operators of manipulating winning numbers to prevent payments of larger sums of money and vice versa; the operatorss have denied such allegations.
Lao Lotterie is a state-run game offering an annual prize pool of more than US$1 billion, once drawing huge crowds of people to its capital of Vientiane. However, its popularity has since diminished; currently only around one third of population participates. Furthermore, state authorities have reduced prize pools given to winners and eliminated special categories altogether.
As such, many have turned to other forms of gambling in order to make money, including online gambling, as the chances of success with online betting are much greater than traditional land-based casinos. Furthermore, several legal online casinos accept players from Laos.
Some individuals have raised concerns that the Laos Lottery is not being run properly, citing players’ complaints that the number 67 keeps coming up often despite it being considered an unlucky number for Laos, and lottery salespersons don’t always punch in correct numbers when selling tickets; others have noted salespersons not always punching in correct numbers themselves when selling tickets, and others still question if weight of lottery balls has changed to favor certain numbers.
One woman who won an over $55 million lottery jackpot has pledged some of it back to her parents and other relatives in Laos. Xia Rattanakone, 44, immigrated to America after growing up in an orphanage before being adopted into an American family in 1979. Both she and her husband plan to leave their jobs — he as an aide at Seattle Public Schools, she as temporary worker at Nintendo of America — in order to return to Laos in search of their birth families.
Lao officials have responded to these concerns by ordering the Ministry of Finance, which oversees Lao’s legal state lottery, to collaborate with the Ministry of Public Security to improve lottery operations and increase transparency. Furthermore, drawings from the state lottery should be reduced to once every week while informal football lotteries and short messaging service lotteries should also be closed down; private business interests cannot be trusted to perform an adequate job with regards to running this national lottery, according to Lao officials (reported by Brooks Boliek for RFA’s Lao Service with photos by Cathy Haug). (Reported and translated by Ounkeo Souksavanh for RFA’s Lao Service with photos by Cathy Haug). (Reported by Brooks Boliek with translation by Ounkeo Souksavanh for RFA Lao Service with translation by Ounkeo Souksavanh for RFA Lao Service; photos by Cathy Haug). (Reported by Brooks Boliek with translation by Ounkeo Souksavanh for RFA Lao Service with photos by Cathy Haug). (Reported by Brooks Boliek for RFA Lao Service with photographs by Cathy Haug). (Reported and translated by Ounkeo Souksavanh for RFA Lao Service with photos by Ounkeo Souksavanh and translated by Ounkeo Souksavanh from RFA Lao Service with photos by Ounkeo Souksavanh for RFA Lao Service for RFA Lao Service; photos by Ounkeo Souksavanh for RFA Lao Service with photographs by Ounkeo Souksavanh for RFA Lao Service with photos by Ounkeo Souksavanh who served them)). (report by Brooks Souksavanh Souks for Lao Service for translation by Ounks Souksvanh Souksvanh for RFA La Service with translation by OUNKEO SoUKs Avanh)). (Source; Translator for La Service Ounks Service with photos by OUNKEO SoUKSavanh from RFA La Service translated for La Service by OUN + Photos from RFA and photos by OUN+SoUKSAVan + Ounks SoUKSAVAN and reported Brook Boliek for R FA Lavanh for La Service R FA for La), Brooksavanh). (O SoUKSAVanh for R FA La Service for La Service Ounks SoUKSAVA vanh and translated : OUNT from La Service Ounks SoUKs Avanh by OUN + SoUKSAvanh for La Service Photos by OunnSov). Report by OUNKE O SoUKSAVANh) Photo By Ounks Avanh translated OUNKEOH) Photo/O SAV VIN; photos: OUN; photosv VNd by OUS..Ven The Lavanh; Photos By Brook Bo s vanh’s SoUKSAN VVan (La) For R FA’s La ViVANh; Photos By O SoUK SAVANC; Photos By RFA’s So UK SAS VANS; Photo (O SoUKs AVA Van RFA’ TANKS VA VA Van He ; Photos By O SoUK SAVVan then; Photos By OUNG S S VANv V