Indonesian Lottery For Indonesians
In the small villages of Flores, lottery games like shio (the local variation of the US Diversity Visa Lottery) are common. Every week village representatives receive the results of a drawing that gives a limited number of immigrant visas to people from countries with low rates of immigration to the United States. These tickets are sold for a small fee; winning one does not guarantee that the winner will receive a green card, however.
People try their luck making small bets on a combination of numbers, based on calculations and interpretations of omens. The game is a constant presence in day-to-day discussions, and – despite the fact that many people lose money – most of them proudly brag about their wins. Children and adults alike often make small bets on a daily basis, and some could even be described as gambling addicts. A few avoid betting, but a majority of villagers try their luck with shio on a weekly basis and are eager to discuss the results with friends and family.
The shio provides an interesting lens for understanding the role of omens in the lives of rural Indonesians. Although Flores residents have long spoken of portentous sightings, the shio introduces a foreign, relatively novel context for discussing what they see as messages from their ancestors. The shio also provides a new way for villagers to understand their own dreams, which are taken as trustworthy predictions of the upcoming lottery draw.