Despite the fact that the state lottery in Laos is run by the government, private business interests control most of the operations, sources say. This has led to alleged rigging of the national lottery, which has been blamed for many small pay-outs. Drawings often show numbers that vanish from purchased tickets or that are deemed unlucky by buyers. The number 509, for example, appeared only as 5 on tickets sold throughout the day of a recent lottery drawing. Some buyers believe the winning number is deliberately manipulated to prevent large pay-outs.

In the United States, a large portion of lottery proceeds is used to fund public education systems. In the past, much of that money came from sales of scratch-off tickets, but with the advent of video lottery terminals (VLTs) those revenues have dropped considerably. Today, a significant portion of US lottery revenue comes from the sale of instant tickets.

Lotteries are operated by governments, state and territorial authorities, or private companies licensed by a country’s gambling laws. In some cases, the private operators are responsible for the entire operation while in others they only manage specific games, such as instant lottery or keno. The latter type of lottery is very popular in the United States and has grown rapidly. The largest operator in the United States is GTech Corporation, which administers approximately 70% of worldwide online and instant lottery business.

The biggest jackpot ever won in the United States was in Powerball, a lottery game with a top prize of $1.3 billion. The winning ticket was bought in early April at a Plaid Pantry convenience store in Portland, Oregon. The winner, identified only as Saephan, will split the prize with his 37-year-old wife, Duanpen. The couple’s winnings will be subject to federal and Oregon taxes.

For many poor Vietnamese, selling lottery tickets is the only way to make a living. On a good day Huong, a single mother from Saigon, sells about 250 lottery tickets and can make up to 230 000 VN-Dong (10 US-Dollars) profit – enough to support herself and her baby, who is due in three months. Huong’s husband Manh accompanies her on the 16-hour daily shift and depends on his earnings as well. While the two are both lucky, their financial situation is still precarious. On days when their sales are not so good, they rely on the help of neighbors and family to survive. Huong says she prefers selling lottery tickets to begging, which is socially detested in Vietnam. “I don’t want to lose my face,” she says. “But I need money to feed my child.” NBC Asian America’s Lillian Andemicael and Richard Finney contributed to this report.