One woman who grew up in an orphanage in Laos and her husband have donated part of their lottery jackpot they won to those who raised her, in Seattle. Additionally, the couple plan to return to Laos in search of their birth families. Xia Rattanakone is just one of many former orphans taking advantage of a lottery law which allows them to claim lump sum payouts if they win big jackpots.
Laos Lotto is a state-run gambling game held thrice weekly and draws players from throughout Laos and abroad. Recently, however, questions have been raised regarding its honesty; according to one knowledgeable source at RFA it could be possible that the company that runs it knows which numbers people choose allowing it to manipulate results; for instance the number 509 has come up as winning lottery number four times since January and this date only appears when someone bought their ticket.
Sources have also claimed that Laotians would often avoid picking number 67 due to its association with turtles – thought by many people as symbolizing bad luck. The company that runs the lottery denies all allegations as being accurate.
Thongloun Sisoulith’s office issued a directive to the Ministry of Finance, which oversees the legal state lottery, to address concerns. Among other requirements, it requires that drawings are reduced from two weekly to one and that winner claims are handled more transparently; as well as restricting internet and SMS sales of lottery tickets.
Laos has long been known for being an epicenter for illegal online lottery gaming, despite its restrictive gambling laws. Numerous online casinos and lottery sites operate from Laos’ shores offering an assortment of different games and jackpots; often from offshore locations sheltered from government censorship.
These illegal websites attract many users due to their cheap entry fees and generous payouts, as well as offering free trial periods so users can test out the site prior to making deposits with real money. This practice allows players to perfect their gambling skills before investing real cash into real gambling accounts.
Before investing any real money in Laos Lotto, be sure to review each website’s terms and conditions carefully. Some have age restrictions while others require you to provide identification by credit card verification. In addition, read reviews from other gamblers before making your decision to gamble for real cash by clicking on “Reviews” tab of their homepage casino’s homepage casino; also be sure to look out for an “Average Payout” column in “About Us” that gives an idea of their payout amounts.