Officials in Laos’ state lottery rig the system and manipulate winning numbers, sources tell RFA’s Lao Service. The office of the prime minister has sent a directive ordering the ministry that oversees the country’s legal state lottery to address the issue. Drawings should be reduced to one a week and prizes handled more transparently, the directive states. Informal football lotteries and lottery chances purchased via short messaging services will also be closed down. Private business interests with ties to the ruling elite are responsible for the national lottery, the sources say. Those involved should be put in jail.

Hanoi lotto – Online lottery game in Vietnam.