Lottery online is a popular way for people in Laos to try their luck. Although the national lottery is not as big as its western counterparts, it still holds a strong place in the gambling culture of the country. Whether you play the lotto online or in person, the lottery is a great opportunity to win a large sum of money. However, you should be aware of the risks involved in playing the lottery.
The rumor mill in Laos has been busy this year with questions about the honesty of the country’s national lottery. Officials with the state organization that runs the lottery have been accused of rigging winning numbers to avoid high pay-outs and prevent public outrage. A source told RFA’s Lao Service that Thailand’s Insee Trading Company that runs the national lottery knows what numbers people choose and can manipulate the results. For example, the number 509 was supposedly the lucky number for this month’s drawing but suddenly disappeared from tickets sold on Oct. 14.
Some players have also complained that the weight of the balls used in the lottery is manipulated. They say the heavier balls will drop into the hole of the urn faster than lighter ones, which makes it easier for lottery officials to spot winners.
A Lao official with the finance ministry, which oversees the lottery, denied any tampering with the balls or other issues with the integrity of the lottery. Vilasack Phommaluck said the committee does double check the winning numbers after each drawing. He added that the committee may change how the lottery is run in the future, such as reducing the number of drawings from three to one per week, to restore faith in the game.
You can purchase a lotto ticket at most grocery stores and convenience stores. If you win, you can claim your prize at the retailer where you bought it by providing proof of identity. The prize must be claimed within six months to a year from the date of the drawing. A lottery ticket is void if it is stolen, unissued, mutilated, illegible, tampered with or otherwise altered in any way. You must present the original ticket with the winner’s photo ID to claim a prize. The winner’s name must be printed on the back of the ticket.