Growing suspicion of integrity of Laos national lottery

Lottery officials in Laos have denied claims it is rigging the national lottery, after a report pointed to a growing sentiment among Laotian lottery players that winning numbers were being manipulated.

On Monday, sources speaking to Radio Free Asia accused lottery officials of “rigging the system” by manipulating winning numbers in order to avoid large pay-outs.

Drawings in the national lottery, which take place three times each week - are often showing numbers deemed unlucky - thus unlikely to be chosen, or show numbers that are unavailable for purchase - saying that too many of the number has been sold (on machines), according to sources.

Sommaly Thammavong—daughter-in-law of former prime minister Thongsing Thammavong and a co-owner in the lottery management group however denied the lottery is rigged.

“The drawing uses random numbers and is completely transparent, and there are no problems with the system at all,” Sommaly told RFA.

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