The Royal Group of Companies announced on May 20 that it was setting up a high-tech

lottery operation in Cambodia with a first prize pegged at $1.2 million or over Riels

4 billion.

Lottery tickets will be sold in Phnom Penh for Riels 2,500 and entries will be confirmed

using the internet in conjunction with the International Lottery in Liechtenstein

Foundation, according to a press release.

"The internet lotto will be part of our learning curve. We plan in time to have

a nationwide Cambodian Lotto and the cooperation and assistance provided by the International

Red Cross and Red Crescent Plus Lotto in Liechtenstein will allow us to become familiar

with the very latest forms of technology used in this business," Royal Group

Chairman Meng Kith is quoted as saying.

"Tiny Cambodia has not only entered the era of the Internet and the World Wide

Web, but has become one of the first nations in the world to operate lotteries over

the internet," the press statement added.