Lottery officials in the communist nation of Laos are manipulating winning numbers to avoid large pay-outs, sources in the country tell RFA’s Lao Service. Despite the legality of Laos’ state lottery, private business interests have gained control of it, and drawing results are often rigged. For example, on Oct. 14 this year, a winning number appeared on tickets sold throughout the day but disappeared from purchased tickets during the actual drawing, a source told RFA.

The government has responded to complaints about lottery rigging by reducing the number of drawing times and requiring all transactions be conducted in a more transparent manner. It has also urged authorities to close informal football lotteries and lottery chances bought by short messaging services. The government has said it will not allow private business interests to run the national lottery again. Reported and translated by Ounkeo Souksavanh. Edited by Richard Finney.