Lottery is a type of gambling that involves drawing numbers at random for a prize. Some governments outlaw it, while others endorse it and organize national or state-level lottery games. Laos’ communist government does not outlaw the game, but sources in the country tell RFA that lottery officials rig the results by manipulating winning numbers. A number that appeared as the winner of a drawing on Oct. 14 this year, for example, vanished from purchased tickets throughout the day before the drawing, a source told RFA’s Lao Service.

The numbers were changed only minutes before the lottery draw was held, the source said. Private business interests that run the national lottery are involved in the scheme, the source added. “Those businesses should not be allowed to control the lottery, because they can’t be trusted,” he said. Saephan and his wife are members of the Iu Mien ethnic group, which has a strong presence in Oregon’s Portland metropolitan area, including a Buddhist temple, schools, social organizations, and businesses. The couple will take half of the prize money after federal and state taxes are taken out.