Lottery officials in the communist state of Laos are rigging the system, making it hard for people to win large pay-outs, sources in the country tell RFA. Drawings often show numbers that disappear from purchased tickets, or are deemed unlucky and unlikely to be chosen. In one case, the winning number 509 appeared only as a five on purchased tickets on Oct. 14 this year, while it appeared as 134 on a ticket sold the same day.
Despite this, the state lottery is still popular in Laos. The government has recently reduced the number of lottery drawings from two to one per week and improved the management of the process, sources say. Despite these improvements, the public has little confidence in the lottery system, and many people have turned to informal football lotteries and other gambling opportunities available through short messaging services.
In an effort to cut back on these unofficial lotteries, the office of Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith sent a directive urging the Ministry of Finance, which oversees the legal state lottery, to work with local authorities to better manage the problem, according to sources. The directive also urged the ministry to reduce the number of lottery draws from two to one each week, and to handle the awarding of prizes in a more transparent manner. It also called for the closure of all lottery chances sold through short messaging service, and said that all lottery results announced on television will be vetted by the ministry before being broadcast.
Private business interests have taken a bigger stake in the lottery industry as the market grows. Malaysian firm Berjaya Corp Bhd (BCorp) and Vietnamese Vietlott have signed a joint venture agreement for the operation of computerized lotteries in Vietnam. BCorp will invest in equipment and software and operate the computerized lottery nationwide.
In the US, a large portion of proceeds from state lotteries is used to fund public education systems. Lottery products are also sold in other countries, including Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia, where the operators are licensed at a national level. These companies are run by private businesses, and some are owned by the state.
In the Philippines, a lottery is run by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, an agency of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. It offers a variety of games and prizes, including cash and vehicles, which are awarded through a draw. The lottery is an important source of revenue for the government, and it provides employment to thousands of Filipinos. It is also a major contributor to the nation’s social security program. The office’s website contains information about how to play the lottery, and how to claim prizes. The agency also sponsors a wide array of charitable projects. Generally, all winnings over $600 must be claimed at an Expanded Retail Cashing Authority Program retailer, where a photo ID and proof of social security or federal tax ID number are required. Alternatively, people can claim their prize at the Lottery headquarters.