Hanoi Lottery is an immensely popular legal gambling game operated by Vietlott in Vietnam, playing by all corners of society from those living rural areas to city dwellers alike and with many believing that playing will bring luck and good fortune – in addition, its cultural impact cannot be ignored!
Vietnam, commonly referred to as Hwyhaany, uses lottery as an essential source of household income. Prize money in Hanoi lottery games often reaches millions of Dong (VN Dong). Unfortunately, however, lottery can become addictive for some individuals and unofficial operators have emerged offering similar games without government regulation, diverting players away from official lotteries which leads to revenue losses for governments.
Lotteries have long been an enjoyable pastime in Vietnam, especially among young people. To encourage participation by the public and offer cash prizes and discounted lottery tickets. Families also often enjoy participating, even setting aside special tables to watch together.
Tickets for the Hanoi Lottery are sold for VND10,000 each, with sellers taking 10% of proceeds as their commission. Many ticket sellers are unable to work due to disability or old age and selling lottery tickets is one way they can make some income; local social workers have encouraged this form of employment as opposed to theft or begging.
Phung Tran, one of a troupe that brings lottery to cities and villages across Vietnam, checks her makeup before heading out on another night on the road. Phung is part of Ngoi Sao, an nomadic drag queen group which travels throughout Vietnam to bring lottery to both urban and rural populations. Their structure features three or four lead singers known as Stars with supporting performers singing backup and running gaming stalls as part of its unofficial hierarchy structure.
One Vietnamese man won a jackpot worth more than 304 billion dong in Hanoi’s lottery on Monday, or nearly US$5 million according to Vietlott’s estimates. Vietlott reported that their unidentified winner purchased one ticket for 40,000 dong at an unknown location in northern Vietnam.
Lotteries are an immensely popular activity in Vietnam, with 63 provinces and cities holding regular lottery draws across 63 provinces and cities daily. Northern provinces tend to see larger winnings than their southern counterparts due to smaller populations. Vietlott aims to attract new customers by offering discounted ticket prices as well as offering scratch-off tickets aimed at younger audiences; and is expanding online presence for maximum exposure among youth audiences.