Lotteries are games of chance in which numbers are drawn at random to determine a winner. They are a popular form of gambling, although some governments prohibit them. Those that do regulate them often set aside some of the proceeds for education, social programs, and other public services. They also prohibit private business interests from running the lottery, except as a service for players.
The most popular form of lottery is the state-run game, sometimes referred to as hwy (huay) in Thailand. It is conducted by the government-owned company Vietlott. It is the world’s fourth largest lottery after the Powerball, Mega Millions, and EuroMillions. Despite its size, the hwy’s jackpot prize is smaller than those of the other two games because there are fewer people playing it.
Private lottery companies have expanded into online gaming, offering players a variety of games and a variety of ways to play. Many of these companies offer premiums over base lottery prices, and are gaining popularity in many countries around the world. Some offer instant tickets and other games, while others are based in countries where gambling is legal. Whether or not these businesses are legitimate remains a matter of contention.
A Lao immigrant who battled cancer for eight years will share hundreds of millions of dollars after winning a game of chance. Cheng Saephan, 46, of Portland, Oregon, won a $1.3 billion Powerball jackpot prize. He will split the money with his wife, Duanpen, and a friend who helped him buy tickets. The winning ticket was sold at a Plaid Pantry convenience store in early April.
Saephan wore a sash at a news conference to identify himself as an Iu Mien, a Southeast Asian ethnic group that originated in southern China and moved to the United States during the Vietnam War as refugees. The Portland area has a large Iu Mien community with a Buddhist temple, Baptist church, social organizations, businesses, and restaurants.
Lottery officials in the communist country of Laos are rigging the system to manipulate winning numbers, sources in the Southeast Asian nation tell RFA’s Lao Service. Drawings in the national lottery, held three times each week, are often riddled with mistakes and irregularities. For example, the number 509 in last month’s drawing appeared only as a number on purchased tickets—and was later replaced with another number, a source told RFA.
A state official who requested anonymity told RFA that the majority of businesses responsible for the lottery’s work are owned by persons with connections to the ruling elite. The state official said the business interests pay annual concession fees to the government, but the public is not informed of the amount.