Military Takes A Hefty Cut From Gambling

Military Takes A Hefty Cut From Gambling

S.H.A.N. correspondent reports from northern Shan State that local military and police officials are heavily involved in widespread gambling, which is supposed to be illegal in Burma. 

"Apart from gambling dens set up on any excusable pretext, a constant feature is the Thai lottery that is a craze in every quarter of the country," said a source. 

The rear three-digit lottery that is known as "share" in Burma is opened twice on the 1st and 16th of each month. 

Authorized dealers, with their satellite dishes, monitor the results directly from Bangkok on those days to settle their dues. 

"However, the price of a license is exorbitant," a local source from Namlan, Hsipaw Township, told S.H.A.N.. In Namlan, a number is sold at K. 100 each, and they usually sell about 10,000 numbers on the average each time. However, the dealers' net goes no more than K. 200,000, because they have to pay K. 200,000 to each of the four agencies in town: The veterans' organization, local Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA), police and military intelligence services and the local military unit. (IB 505, IB 506 and LIB 243 come in by rotation.) 

The illustrated book of dream interpretation, drawn by Hart-hai five years ago in two languages, Burmese and Shan, is currently which can predict numbers the best seller. It has already been printed several times since.