We numerically study the statistical distribution of intensity of light transmitted through quasi-one-dimensional random media by varying the dimensionless conductance g and the amount of absorption or gain. A markedly non-Rayleigh distribution is found to be well fitted by the analytical formula of Nieuwenhuizen et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 74, 2674 (1995)] with a single parameter g′ . We show that in the passive random system g′ is uniquely related to g , while in amplifying or absorbing random media g′ also depends on the gain or absorption coefficient.