Vietnam's Lotto 5/35 Sees Increased Player Interest Due to Jackpot Sharing Mechanism

Vietnam's Lotto 5/35 lottery is seeing increased player interest due to a new mechanism that allows for the division of the jackpot prize. When the top prize (Độc đắc) exceeds 12 billion VND and remains unclaimed after a draw, its entire value is distributed among the higher prize tiers, significantly boosting potential winnings for non-jackpot winners. This has led to a noticeable rise in sales at Vietlott outlets. The Lotto 5/35 game features a starting jackpot of 6 billion VND, which accumulates if no winner is found in a given draw. According to the product's regulations, if the jackpot surpasses 12 billion VND and remains unclaimed by the draw at 9 PM the following day, the full jackpot amount will be split among prize tiers from First to Fifth, excluding the consolation prize. Specifically, the First prize will receive one-third of the jackpot, while the Second, Third, Fourth, and Fifth prizes will each receive one-sixth. If any of these tiers have no winners, their allocated portion will be further distributed to lower tiers. Consequently, the actual payout for these tiers can be substantially higher than their standard prize amounts. Minh Nhi, a resident of Hanoi, typically spends 20,000-30,000 VND daily on Lotto 5/35 tickets. During jackpot-sharing periods, her spending increases to around 50,000 VND, and she sometimes opts for the 'bao 12 số' (covering 12 numbers) option. She noted that the prize-sharing mechanism offers the chance for significantly higher winnings in tiers other than the jackpot. At a Vietlott point of sale in Ho Chi Minh City, employee Tien Dung reported a surge in customers purchasing Lotto 5/35 tickets as the jackpot-sharing draw approaches. He observed that the outlet becomes considerably busier during these times, with many customers inquiring about draw schedules to avoid missing out, while regular players tend to choose the 'bao' betting method. Dung stated that while the jackpot remains the primary draw for most customers, the prize-sharing mechanism has also generated significant interest in the First through Fifth prize tiers due to their potential for increased payouts compared to normal draws. In addition to its physical retail network, Vietlott offers lottery distribution via mobile phones through the Vietlott SMS application. Users can purchase tickets and participate in draws conveniently through the app. Source: VnExpress