The official lottery in the communist country of Laos is rigged, with winning numbers appearing and disappearing on purchased tickets, sources in the capital city Vientiane tell RFA’s Lao Service. A recent drawing showed the number 09—associated with a buffalo—which was not available throughout the day, and was suddenly restored an hour before the draw, a source told RFA on condition of anonymity. Moreover, business interests behind the state lottery include family members of the nation’s ruling elite. The government recently issued a directive calling for state lottery drawing times to be reduced and winnings handled more transparently. (Ounkeo Souksavanh and Bounchanh Mouangkham contributed reporting.)