Until recently, there was no way to play the lottery in Laos from the comfort of your home. However, with the advent of Internet technology this has changed. Now you can easily purchase lottery tickets online and even watch the live drawing results. This has prompted some questions about the integrity of the national lottery, but Lao officials say they are doing their best to ensure transparency and fairness.
Lottery in Laos is a state-sponsored game run by the Ministry of Finance, which oversees legal state lottery operations. The game is regulated by the government and provides funds for the country’s public education system. Nevertheless, the lottery’s reputation has been damaged by allegations that officials manipulate winning numbers in order to avoid large pay-outs.
In addition to the government, private business interests also have a stake in the lottery’s work. Several of the companies responsible for the lottery have close ties to the ruling elite. The companies charge the government for their concession each year, but the public is not told how much they pay or whether their concessions are monitored.
A number of incidents this year have raised questions about the honesty of the lottery’s thrice-weekly drawings. During one drawing the cat number, which represents felines in Lao culture, appeared four times in a row, prompting some players to question its legitimacy. In another incident, the number 509 disappeared from purchased tickets before a drawing took place. A lottery salesman told RFA’s Lao Service that the company that runs the lottery knows which numbers people choose, allowing it to manipulate the results.
Vilasack Phommaluck, a deputy finance minister and member of the steering committee for the lottery, denied the accusations. He said the ministry is working hard to improve the system by reducing the number of drawing times and making them live. He also said the committee double checks the weight of lottery balls to prevent tampering.
Despite the government’s attempts to maintain control of the lottery, it is difficult to monitor the activities of private businesses, which have emerged in recent years to sell lottery tickets on the Internet and offer services like processing payments. These businesses have been accused of offering fake lottery tickets and charging excessive fees for their services. Some are even operating outside of the country.
While there is no guarantee that you will win a prize, it’s worth playing just for the fun of it. Remember to check your ticket before leaving the Retailer location. Tickets are void if they are stolen, unissued, mutilated, illegible, altered or defective in any way. It’s also a good idea to keep your tickets in a safe place so they won’t get lost. If you do lose a ticket, ask the Retailer where it was purchased for a refund or new number. You must be 16/18/21 years of age to play. For further information visit the Washington State Lottery website.