The lottery is a popular form of gambling in Thailand. It takes place twice a month, on the 1st and 16th of each month, and is played by over 19 million people; 28.6% of the country’s population. The premise is simple: participants buy tickets, pin their hopes on a sequence of numbers and if their selection matches the winning number, they win. The game unites people in a shared dream and fuels the human spirit with the tantalizing possibility of a life-altering fortune.
The chances of hitting the jackpot are slim, but if you do, the money you win can change your life forever. The lottery is not without its critics, however. Some people have taken the concept of winning big to extremes and claim that their “systems” can predict the winning numbers. Others have taken the lottery experience to a whole new level, using their mathematical prowess and behavioural analysis to find ways of beating the odds.
Many Thais are very superstitious when it comes to selecting their lottery numbers. They believe that the numbers they choose can be influenced by everything from their dreams and horoscopes to signs in nature, astrophysics and even their favourite food. They also believe that certain animals’ behaviour can be a sign of the winning lottery numbers. For example, if you spot a tortoise scurrying across the road, it’s believed to be a good sign because tortoises are lucky.
One of the most popular ways to select your lottery numbers is through esiimsi, which is an ancient method of fortune telling using bamboo sticks marked with numbers. People can shake the sticks until one falls out, and this number is deemed to be their lucky one. Some people even take this to the next level and visit a temple known for its holy water basin, such as Sawang Arom Temple, to try out their luck.
Lottery tickets in Thailand are pre-printed and include a variety of anti-counterfeiting features. They are also only sold in ticket pairs, with each individual ticket priced at 80 baht. Ticket pairs are available at convenience stores and supermarkets. While foreigners have been known to buy lottery tickets in Thailand, they are not officially available for purchase outside the country.