The International Lottery in Liechtenstein (ILLF) is a state-owned foundation that operates the Internet’s first online lottery. Founded in 1995, it was the first to process an online gaming transaction and has since established itself as one of the leading operators in the world. In addition to its online lottery, the ILLF also runs a number of other websites that offer gambling and other games. The ILLF’s lottery games are available in several countries worldwide.
Laos lottery officials are rigging the system, manipulating winning numbers to avoid large pay-outs, sources in the communist nation tell RFA’s Lao Service. Drawings often show numbers that disappear from purchased tickets or are deemed unlucky and therefore unlikely to be chosen. For example, the number 509 appeared only as a 5 on tickets sold throughout the day of Oct. 14’s drawing, a source in the capital of Vientiane told RFA on condition of anonymity.
Some officials have been ordered to change their ways. On Aug. 17, the office of Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith sent a directive requiring the Ministry of Finance, which oversees the country’s legal state lottery, to work with the police and public security agencies to better manage the problem. It ordered state lottery drawing times to be reduced from two to one a week, and that winnings be processed in a more transparent manner. It also called for an end to informal football lotteries and lottery chances sold through short messaging services.
Many people make a living by selling tickets. A typical seller, like Huong in Saigon, works a 16-hour shift and earns about 250 Vietnamese Dong (about 11 US-Cents) per day. The money is used to buy food and other necessities. The hefty profit is made possible by a lack of registration and taxation for sellers and buyers.
It is possible to claim prizes valued up to $600 from Lottery headquarters if you have an Expanded Cashing Authority ticket. You will need your receipt, social security or federal tax ID number and a picture identification to do so. For prizes valued over $600, you may be directed to visit a Lottery retailer or the HQ to redeem your prize. The HQ will pay you the prize amount, less any offsets or obligations, by check on the day you visit.