Abstract:
This study originally came from the observation of a phenomenon whereby the small vendors of government lottery tickets were unjustly taken advantage of and where the buyers, on the other hand, were forced to buy the tickets at exorbitant price. The objectives of the study were: 1) to analyze the structure of ticket allocation and its impacts upon the buyers and the small vendors and, 2) to find equitable ways for ticket allocation. This study adopted the qualitative approach and utilized two research tools; the investigation of existing literature and in-depth interviews. The interviews were conducted with politicians, the executives of the government lottery organization, major distributors in the government and in the private sector, financial backers, charitable organizations, and small vendors in total of 25 persons. Additionally, a total of 249 small vendors were examined quantitatively. The finding revealed that the present power structure of the ticket allocations created unfavorable conditions conducive to grafts. Politicians appeared to have firmly established certain types of powerful client-patron relationships with the board members and the executives of the government lottery organization, and the major distributors, ignoring the interests of the small vendors and the buyers. The board members and the executives of the lottery organization also neglected to take necessary actions to ensure that the tickets price on the market was reasonable for the buyers and small vendors. As a result, these people were forced to pay extortionate prices for the tickets. It was also found out that this trouble condition weakened right-based organizations of people with disabilities and other charitable organizations. In addition, most of the small vendors made a day-to-day living, working in an unsafe environment without welfare and life security, whereas the operation of the lottery organization appeared to be more gambling-oriented. From overall examination, it was recommended that a new method of the ticket distribution should be made to prevent the major distributors from fixing the market price of the tickets. Secondly, the tickets should be allotted to more small vendors. Thirdly, assemblies of small vendors as legal persons should be promoted. Fourth, an effective measure and punishment should be clearly set if overprices tickets are found on the market. Fifth, the structure of the lottery board should be re-determined to prevent the members from taking advantages of the allocations and from the public fund obtaining from the revenue of the lottery. Next, the overall revenue from the ticket sales should be set aside for the fund for social welfare promotion and the rehabilitation fund for people with disabilities. Also, the welfare schemes for small vendors should be made. To achieve all these results, an amendment of the Lottery Act (1974) should be properly made.