Lottery is a game of chance where numbers are drawn to determine the winner of a prize. Most lottery games involve a prize that is cash or goods. Some prizes are predetermined, and others are based on the number of tickets sold. Most governments regulate lottery activities, and most have public and private operators. Publicly run lottery games are generally operated by state or territory governments, while privately owned lotteries are usually operated by independent companies. Lottery proceeds are often used to support education and other public services. In the United States, large portions of state lottery proceeds are spent on education. In Australia, lottery games are regulated by state governments and operate under Government licence. The two largest private companies are Tatts Group and Netlotto Pty Ltd, both of which sell online lottery products in addition to their traditional retail operations.
In Laos, state-controlled companies are responsible for running the national lottery and a handful of private lotteries. Those companies include business interests with close ties to the country’s ruling elite, RFA’s Lao service reported. The companies also pay the government for a concession to run the lotteries, but they are not required to disclose how much money they make from the lottery or how much of the national budget they consume.
Despite this, many people participate in lotteries, both legally and illegally. A recent directive from the office of Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith calls for a reduction in lottery drawings and more transparent handling of winnings. It also instructs the ministry to work with the police to better control illegal football lotteries and lottery chances purchased by mobile phone users. The ministry will also target unauthorized online bookmakers, which are typically not blocked by the government.
Laos is one of the world’s most conservative societies, but there are still signs of a changing climate around gambling. While the government remains hesitant to regulate the sector, a number of private business interests have begun operating lottery-style games and charging premiums on base lottery prices. This has led to an increase in online gaming and a proliferation of websites offering ticket purchasing services, some of which are completely unregulated.
This talk will explore the political, economic and moral history of lotteries in Laos since 1975, as well as the mechanics of the lottery system itself. Charles Zuckerman is a linguist and anthropologist who has been working in Laos for the past fifteen years. His doctoral research investigated gender and the moral dimensions of gambling in Luang Prabang, and he is currently turning this research into a book. His current post-doctoral research investigates linguistic and cultural diversity and convergence in the Nakai-Nam Theun Protected Area.