How much commission is appropriate for street lottery ticket sellers?

Afraid of holding on to tickets, a lottery ticket seller in the West took to the streets to solicit customers - Photo: LE DAN

Need to unify commission for street lottery ticket sellers

Ms. Thai Thi Van, a ticket vendor in Ward 9, Ca Mau City, Ca Mau Province, said that every day she takes 100 lottery tickets, traveling at least 10km to sell them all. On favorable days, when buyers are sympathetic, she sells them all and earns 100,000 VND in profit, meaning each lottery ticket gets a 10% commission.

"Business is sometimes good and sometimes not. Many days I am tired and cannot walk far, so I only need to hold 5 tickets, which means that day I don't have enough money to buy rice to feed 3 people at home. Selling for 10 years, it's not enough to get by, let alone save money. I hope lottery companies and agents increase commissions and take better care of street lottery sellers," Ms. Van shared.

The owner of a lottery ticket agency in Vi Thanh city, Hau Giang province said that lottery tickets have been in high demand recently and there are not enough to sell.

According to this agent, the commission rate for agents and street vendors is 15%, of which agents pay 0.75% tax, and the minimum commission for street vendors is 10%.

This person said that for long-time, close, reputable street vendors who do not lack money when selling lottery tickets, the agent can pay more than 10% commission. That is the agreement between the agent and the street vendor.

"The street vendor took his lottery ticket, but another street vendor saw a good number, was told in advance by the buyer, and the two sides shared it with each other. Maybe they split it at 9,500 VND/ticket, then the two people split that 10% commission," he analyzed.

A level 2 lottery agent in Soc Trang city, Soc Trang province said that currently the commission on each lottery ticket that agents "set" for street vendors is very different.

In many places in the West, from the company, it goes through level 1, level 2, level 3 agents and then the distribution system, and then to the street vendors, sometimes the commission is only 10%.

According to him, those who buy directly from level 2 agents will get better commissions. Those who do not have capital or reputation must buy lottery tickets through the distribution system, so their commissions drop. He said he buys from level 1 agents and hands them over to sellers who receive a 12% commission, making only a small profit.

"Lottery tickets are scarce, not enough supply for the market, so many agents are greedy for profit, squeezing the commission of street lottery ticket sellers. They find all kinds of ways to squeeze street vendors.

I think the commissions that lottery companies are implementing are reasonable.

The problem is whether the agents are willing to share with the street vendors or not. In the future, this needs to be managed and there should be a common consensus. We should not entrust the 15% commission. After paying taxes, the agents will have to worry about how to deal with the street vendors. It will not be good," the owner of the level 2 agent suggested.

Dr. Tran Khac Tam - Chairman of the Soc Trang Province Business Association - informed that in Soc Trang alone, there are 6,000 people selling lottery tickets on the street. Most of them are in pitiful circumstances, many elderly people and children also make a living by selling lottery tickets on the street.

"The sales of the Southern Lottery Companies are achieved thanks to the great efforts of the ladies, gentlemen and children who sell lottery tickets on the street. It is true that the lottery ticket sellers receive commission on each lottery ticket sold, but that is also the effort, sweat and tears that they have worked hard for.

Honestly speaking, the 10% commission and other benefits for street lottery ticket sellers are not appropriate. Many times we have made suggestions, but they say it is due to regulations. I think we need to recalculate on the occasion of the merger of provinces and cities. If something is not suitable, we should adjust it to make it reasonable and appropriate," Mr. Tam suggested.

Hope to sell enough lottery tickets to make a living

Ms. Thai Thi Van in Soc Trang said that her family had no land to produce and no capital, so she chose to sell lottery tickets on the street.

"Selling lottery tickets is my main job and income, as well as many people staying in my neighborhood. Therefore, I suggest that if companies merge, they should issue tickets every day so that people have jobs and stable income to support themselves and their families," said Ms. Van.

Ms. Thuy, a level 3 lottery agent in Ca Mau city, said that no matter what, lottery companies in the Southern region try to ensure enough lottery tickets for street vendors.

"There is a reality that small-level agents are not allocated enough good numbers. Bad numbers are left over, and unsold numbers are difficult to return. I hope that companies will discuss and help those who have worked hard to sell lottery tickets for the company," Ms. Thuy hopes.

An old man in Ca Mau braves the sun to sell all 100 lottery tickets - Photo: THANH HUYEN

A lottery agent in Soc Trang suggested that the current lottery companies should be kept. According to this agent, the demand for lottery tickets in the Southern region is very high, and the supply is not enough to sell. Many provinces sold out their lottery tickets before the draw. Only on Saturday, because 4 provinces issued lottery tickets and it fell on a holiday, there were still some remaining lottery tickets, but the number was insignificant.

"If we re-import and reduce the release and prize-giving dates, lottery tickets will become even more scarce. Not only will it reduce budget revenue, but it will also affect the livelihoods of many street lottery ticket sellers," the agent explained.

Dr. Tran Khac Tam - Chairman of the Soc Trang Province Business Association - said that when the province is merged, the plan to arrange the Southern Lottery Companies will certainly be considered. However, in his personal opinion, he hopes that it will remain the same as it is now.

According to Dr. Tam, the lottery business has been stable for a long time, contributing to the budget and creating jobs for many people, most of whom are disadvantaged in society. Therefore, once merged, it will have a significant impact, especially on the livelihood of the poor, so it needs to be carefully considered.

"The merger of lottery companies by province and city also creates more provinces and less provinces. For example, every Wednesday, Soc Trang province and Can Tho city open the lottery. When Soc Trang merges into Can Tho, it will lose one issue period.

As for Ho Chi Minh City, currently the lottery is opened twice a week. After the merger of Binh Duong and Ba Ria - Vung Tau, it is unlikely that it will be released four times a week. Keeping it the same will both meet the demand for supply, ensure budget revenue, and effectively exploit the existing infrastructure and facilities of lottery companies, especially without affecting the lives of street lottery ticket sellers," Mr. Tam analyzed.

Tomorrow (April 24) will discuss ticket issuance when merging provinces.

A leader of the Department of Finance of Hau Giang province said that there is currently no guidance from the Ministry of Finance on issuing lottery tickets after the merger of provinces and cities.

However, tomorrow, April 24, in Da Lat city, Lam Dong province, there will be the 137th Southern Lottery Conference, and there will certainly be discussions and exchanges about this.

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KHAC TAM - LE DAN - THANH HUYEN

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/hoa-hong-cho-nguoi-ban-ve-so-dao-bao-nhieu-la-phu-hop-20250423124356218.htm