Many students, who think they can make quick cash, have fallen into the trap of lotto betting addiction.

Tea stands provide service to bet on lotto results

Dangers of the lotto

The lotto has penetrated into student life in several universities. Although the official lottery is both legal and encouraged by the Government, many people make illegal bets on lotto results through unlicensed 'bookies'. This type of gambling can be high-stakes and even ruin lives.

Realising that this trend has been catching on among university students, a reporter roamed the city, going to places frequented by students, tea stands, buses and guest houses to see what he could find out about these gambling habits.

On a public bus travelling from My Dinh bus station to Co Loa in Dong Anh District, a group of FPT students could be overheard talking about the lottery. A male student said, “My mother just sent me VND1.5 million (USD71.9), I'm going to put all of it on number 73."

Even though they lived in rented houses on the outskirts of the city, the group decided to get off the bus at Nam Thang Long. They intended to call on a friend and have a party at his house in case number 73 was a winner.

At a tea stand outside of the University of Electricity, another group of students asked the tea seller to be extended a line of credit. "Would you do me a favour and let me pay you later for some numbers?  I'd like to make up my losses from yesterday."

The seller replied that she would only give credit for tea.

After a short discussion, the group agreed that they would put up whatever valuables they had in order to bet independently on the lotto results.

Consequences

While there is a large number of students who have heavily involved in lottery betting, it poorer students from the countryside seem to be especially susceptible. Many of them see it as a way to change their lives quickly. Others just see it as a way to keep up with their friends.

A first year student of Vinh University has started to bet on lotto results for pleasure. His luck won for the first time, encouraging him to play more. He decided to spend more money on the game, mounting to millions of VND.

Having been an obedient child, he had no problem asking his parents for money, blaming it on high living costs. Most of the money he received went to lotto betting, and gradually his studies suffered.

His family did not discover what was going on until he was a third year student. An old friend told his older sister about his problem. He was banned from testing in over ten subjects and ended up owing a total of VND50 million (USD2,398).

A student of Vinh Technical Teachers Training University seemed to be bit luck at this game. He had won VND60 million (USD2,877) and used part of the money on buying a LX scooter, in addition to organising parties to treat his friends.

He decided to quit his studies in order to 'gamble' full time. But he ended up addicted to drugs and deeply in debt.

Rules of the game

There is more than one way to play the lottery. There are 27 drawings. A player can bet on the last two numbers of any one of these drawings. Winning first prize this way can earn a reward of VND80,000 for every VND23,000 investment.

But the more potentially lucrative way to play is to bet on the last 2 numbers of the of the 'special prize'. This prize is higher than the first prize. The payout for this can be VND80,000 for every VND1,000.