Lotteries are popular games of chance where participants purchase numbered tickets with the hope of winning prizes from random drawings. Lotteries can be found across Canada, the US and Europe. Lotteries provide players with cars, houses and cash prizes as prizes; sometimes people may even win free travel. While these lotteries can be addictive and social impacts on communities where they’re played may also be negatively impacted by this gambling phenomenon.
Lottery players can compare their numbers with official lottery results to search for winning combinations that could bring significant financial reward. But concerns have emerged regarding the integrity of lottery draws. Some say they believe it to be fixed; other claim private business interests have influence and the lottery should come under government control.
One cause of concern about Vientiane-based lottery company owned by a Thai businessman and operating out of Vientiane is that they may manipulate results of drawings to draw more customers and increase profits. One source who spoke anonymously told RFA they knew which numbers people chose, enabling them to manipulate results; while they claimed there is no transparency to its operations.
Vilasack Phommaluck, an official from the Finance Ministry who sits on the committee that oversees the lottery, confirmed to RFA that changes have been implemented to increase transparency and dispel suspicion of shenanigans. Now being broadcast live online and reduced from weekly drawings down to once each week. Furthermore, certain numbers could potentially be blocked or not sold to prevent any potential rigging practices by government agents.
But some believe these changes won’t go far enough in rebuilding faith in the lottery. A local resident who closely tracks this industry maintains that private business interests remain heavily involved with it, rendering its results impossible to trust. He pointed out how companies remain opaque about their operations and conduct of draws without police oversight, with no independent audit conducted of the system itself.
The government has issued a warning that anyone found operating an illegal lottery, slot machine or online game will face severe punishment. First-time offenders will be educated and fined 50 percent of the value of illegal lotteries; repeat offenders may face 100% fines and confiscation of printing equipment. Furthermore, law enforcement agencies have been asked to be on the lookout for anyone running unlicensed lotteries; anyone found doing so will be prosecuted according to Article 141 of the Penal Code that prohibits gambling activities.