Lao lotteries provide an unrivalled combination of entertainment and financial opportunity, drawing in all kinds of participants since its first introduction in 18th century. Lotteries attract religious congregations as well as those looking for fortune-hunters alike. Lotteries have helped fund many church buildings across the city and provided an additional source of income for poor people, yet their growing popularity has resulted in illegal operations that threaten to overwhelm legal state systems. The Prime Minister’s Office issued a directive asking that the Ministry of Finance, which oversees legal state lotteries in Japan, collaborate with police in order to better manage this problem. It has also mandated that the number of drawings be reduced from two per week to just one, and winnings handled in an open manner. Furthermore, the ministry was ordered to crack down on informal football lotteries sold via short messaging services or bought via informal channels such as WhatsApp.
Lao culture associates felines with certain numbers that appear repeatedly in national lottery drawings, sparking concerns over their integrity. But according to an anonymous lottery salesman speaking with RFA’s Lao Service on condition of anonymity, Thailand’s Insee Trading Company which runs the lottery knows which numbers players select and thus has an ability to manipulate results through manipulation of player choices.
Recent events have cast further doubts upon the honesty of Vientiane’s lottery. One incident raised suspicions: on Oct 14th, when 509 was drawn as the winning number, tickets sold throughout that day did not include it, according to sources in Vientiane who spoke with RFA.
An immigrant from Laos who won the Powerball jackpot earlier this year plans on using her $1.3 billion windfall to assist her family. Xia Rattanakone, who grew up in an orphanage during Laos’ turbulent 1960s and ’70s period, told the Oregon Lottery she will give some of her prize money towards helping her husband and two children buy homes and pay tuition costs for college tuition.
Laos’ lottery is a nationalized, state-run enterprise which draws upon the interest and enthusiasm of its millions of citizens to engage in gaming. Young families make up many of its winners, who hope that using their winnings to improve their standard of living and raise their children in an improved environment than may otherwise exist. All lottery profits, which remain undisclosed and remain within the country’s treasury system. Government ministries, private businesses and non-government organisations alike all depend on tourism income as a major source of funds to operate effectively. Tourism also brings benefits to the economy by attracting foreign investors drawn by high profit margins. Money from lottery sales has also been used to restore and rebuild several ancient churches in Vientiane’s old quarter, with prize payouts offered as incentives to encourage participation – resulting in Laos having the highest number of lottery participants among Southeast Asian nations, according to World Bank estimates.