Lottery officials in the communist nation of Laos are rigging the national lottery to avoid large pay-outs, sources tell RFA’s Lao Service. The numbers on purchased tickets often vanish or appear randomly as other numbers in the drawing. For example, the number 509 appeared as only 5 on purchased tickets throughout the day of a recent lottery drawing, but then was changed to 9 just an hour before the drawing began, a source told RFA. Private business interests in charge of the lottery are tied to the country’s ruling elite, he added. RFA’s Ounkeo Souksavanh contributed to this report. Hanoi Lotto: Check Live Broadcast and Results Today!