Cheng Saephan of Portland has won the $1.3 billion Powerball jackpot, after eight years of battling cancer. The winner plans to share his fortune with his wife Duanpen and a friend who chipped in $100 to purchase tickets together and will take home $422 million after taxes are withheld. Online observers believe his generosity might be seen as proof from God that finally blessing him after years of pain.

Some believe Lao lottery officials may be manipulating games to avoid paying out large prize amounts. National lotteries held three times each week often produce results with numbers that vanish from tickets purchased throughout a drawing day or are seen by many as unlucky; one such number was 509 which appeared only as five on tickets bought throughout that day; when winning numbers were announced though it suddenly vanished! A source told RFA’s Lao Service this happened earlier this year.

Concerns have also been raised regarding the integrity of Laos’ lottery, specifically whether some balls used in its draw are heavier than others. Vilasack Phommaluck, who heads up the committee that oversees it, dismissed these allegations by telling RFA he double checked their weights and does not believe any officials are manipulating results to avoid giving out large payouts. Reported by Ounkeo Souksavanh in Vientiane with writing by Brooks Boliek and editing by James Farrington.