Lotteries are government-sponsored games of chance that award prizes based on the numbers drawn. They are a popular source of revenue in many countries and are regulated by law. Prizes can range from cash to goods and services. In addition, some governments use lottery proceeds to support education systems. In Canada, for example, large portions of lottery revenue are used to fund public schools. In the United States, state governments regulate lottery operations and some even have their own lottery websites.
Lottery officials in the communist country of Laos are rigging the system, manipulating winning numbers in order to avoid large pay-outs, sources in the Southeast Asian nation tell RFA. Drawings in the national lottery, which are held three times each week, often show numbers that vanish from purchased tickets or that are deemed unlucky and unlikely to be chosen. In one case, on Oct. 14, the number 509 appeared only as a 5 on tickets sold throughout the day of the drawing, but was changed to 134 minutes before the drawing was scheduled to take place, the source said.
The official Lao lottery has not ruled out implementing an online version of its product, though a date has yet to be set. Until now, people in the country have been buying lottery products at brick-and-mortar outlets. Nevertheless, the new digital lottery could be a game-changer for people in the country who don’t have access to traditional shops or who want to avoid long lines at physical stores.
In Vietnam, two customers will share the jackpot from Thursday’s Vietlott lottery draw, which is worth around US$12 million each. The lottery company, which is part of state-owned VTV, said the winners were both in Ho Chi Minh City. The two winning tickets were among those sold in the capital city and in Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province.
The winner of a $1.3 billion Oregon Powerball prize was an immigrant from the Laotian ethnic minority of Iu Mien. The man, Cheng Saephan, has a big smile and is wearing a bright blue sash that says “Iu Mien USA.” His success has raised awareness about the community, which is spread out across the U.S. and has a strong presence in the Portland area. The community includes a Buddhist temple, a Baptist church, social organizations and businesses.
While the number of players who play the lottery is still low compared to other forms of gambling, the popularity of lottery games has been growing in recent years. This is due to increased interest in playing the lottery and the availability of online lottery services. In addition, there is growing awareness of the dangers of gambling addiction. In response to these trends, some governments are taking steps to improve the regulation of the industry and reduce the number of lottery participants. This has led to the development of instant lottery tickets, which are similar to scratch-off tickets. In the United States, instant tickets have become a significant portion of lottery revenue. In addition, some jurisdictions have introduced keno and video lottery terminals (or slots in all but name).