Lottery officials in Laos are manipulating winning numbers to avoid large pay-outs, according to sources from RFA’s Lao Service. Drawings held three times weekly often show numbers which appear on tickets but do not turn up when purchased – for instance the number 509 only appeared as five after many Lao people purchased tickets with nines representing cats as symbolic animals in Lao culture.

As is widely believed, numbers 67, 367 and 267 are considered bad luck; few gamblers would choose these numbers when betting; yet these three numbers appeared as winners in consecutive drawings between August 10 and October 14. Suspicion increased when they appeared again on August 10, Sept 22 and Oct 14 with no explanation from any government official as to why. RFA’s Lao Service quoted one government official who denied allegations by saying the finance ministry committee responsible had thoroughly checked their winning numbers before verifying them for future lottery draws.

However, the scandal has destroyed trust in the state lottery and many beneficiaries are demanding its takeover by the government. A senior government official stated that private business interests involving families linked to ruling elite had an interest in its operation; no specific figures were mentioned for annual payments made for that right to operate it and neither public nor press were informed how its operations are inspected.

Dr. Charles Zuckerman is an anthropologist and linguist specializing in Laotian gambling culture. A professor at University of California Davis and having conducted ethnographic research since 2013, his doctoral project traced how people use and understand the lottery system on the ground in Luang Prabang. Over two years of fieldwork exploring lottery nuances as they relate to other aspects of daily life on Lao soil have taught him much; his new book on this subject, due out 2021 will also serve as resources.