As soon as Laos heard that number 134 had won its lottery on August 10, it caused an uproar in Laos. Felis catus is associated with this number in Laos culture and would typically attract many players of its thrice weekly lotto game; however, now four consecutive months have gone by with that same number appearing again and again, causing suspicion among many players who participate.
State-owned company behind national lottery has issued a statement explaining they are investigating reports that certain numbers are being altered, as well as reviewing its procedures – specifically whether weight of balls used for selection is consistent and drawing process fair. While it remains uncertain if these changes will help restore confidence in lottery, ministry official serving on committee that oversees it stated further changes may come into effect.
One option, according to him, would be for the ministry to reduce drawing frequency from once a week to every two weeks for easier tracking and display of results live. Another change might involve capping how much can be won when matching two numbers as it currently can multiply stakes by 10,000 times when matching three of four – turning a 1,000 Kip stake into a 6 Million Kip prize pool!
Money rewards offered as lottery prizes are meant to encourage participation and attract those with limited finances, said Laotian Minister for Economy and Planning Ajai Chaichandra. Unfortunately, this system has been compromised by illegal lotteries sold by individuals and private businesses in Vientiane; thus prompting his ministry to regulate these operations as part of a crackdown and punish those engaging in them with severe sanctions from government.
Although the national lottery in Laos remains controversial, its popularity remains undiminished among many who hope to strike it rich. According to Vientiane Post’s estimates, some 200,000 people participate every day, mostly migrants seeking large sums of money as prizes.
Saephan, who immigrated from Laos eight years ago and settled in the United States eight years ago, recently won over $1.3 billion in a recent Powerball lottery draw. While this prize may change his life and that of his family dramatically, half will go directly toward helping others while the remainder will fund missionary trips in Thailand, Laos, and even China – prompting many to question whether such spending makes good use of such a huge sum of money; Saephan stands by his decision, saying it was God’s will and that this decision makes perfect sense given his circumstances and that decision. He defends himself saying this is what is meant by doing what God intended – something many have come to doubted during such discussions.