For many Lao gamblers, the lottery is a fun way to test their luck without risking their life savings. And a large part of the proceeds go towards helping local hospitals and other charities. But some people have started to question the honesty of the game. The number 67, which is associated with the turtle, an animal that is believed to bring bad luck, came up in the winning numbers for three consecutive drawings at the end of September. This raised suspicions that lottery officials were rigging the results to avoid paying out large payouts.

But that isn’t the only problem with the lottery. Some players complain that numbers are mysteriously missing from purchased tickets. Others say that the weight of the ball used to draw the numbers isn’t properly disclosed. And a salesman tells RFA’s Lao Service that Thailand’s Insee Trading Company, which runs the lottery, knows which numbers are being chosen and can manipulate the drawing process.

While the Lao government has taken steps to restore public confidence in the lottery, some people still have doubts. Private business interests that run the lottery are not transparent, and they do not answer to the Lao public. Private companies pay the Lao state government for the right to operate the lottery, but the government does not inspect their operations or verify their financial statements. And some of these businesses are linked to the families of top government officials, including former prime minister Thongsing and former president Khamtay Siphandone.

But Lao state official Vilasack Phommaluck says the committee overseeing the lottery is trying to restore faith in the game. He says changes have been made to respond to concerns that the lottery is being rigged, including cutting back on the frequency of the drawings. He also says other changes could be on the horizon, such as limiting the number of draws to one a week. However, it’s unclear how those measures would help if the lottery company is already manipulating the results. The company has a contract with the ministry to run the lottery, but the committee does not have veto power over how the company conducts its business. Whether or not those manipulations are being carried out, the results of the lottery should be verifiable and fair.