Lao woman Xia Rattanakone plans to give some of her $55 million lottery jackpot prize to those who cared for her during her formative years in an orphanage during Laos’ turbulent 1960s and 70s, who provided shelter. Additionally, some of this wealth will help her travel back home to her native land to locate birth family who fled as communism crumbled during 1975 when it took power in Thailand.

Photo shows a Lao woman selling lottery tickets outside a store in Vientiane as she is part of the state-run Lottery Authority but doesn’t appear to make much money off them; rather she seems passively accepting of being marginalized while waiting for potential customers.

Lottery officials in Laos are accused of manipulating winning numbers to game their system, according to sources in Laos. Drawings often feature numbers that disappear quickly or only briefly appear before changing, according to RFA’s Lao Service source. One such manipulated drawing on Oct 14 saw number 134 appear as 5 on subsequent drawings – something lottery officials denied as true by their denials at press time.

This presentation will examine what playing the lottery and selecting numbers means to people living in Luang Prabang, where anthropologist Charles Zuckerman conducted ethnographic research from 2013-2016. Furthermore, it will outline how Laos has implemented its national lottery system as an economic activity compatible with socialism goals.