Thai lotto is Thailand’s official national lottery, and incredibly popular among its citizens. One of only two legal forms of gambling in Thailand, many Thais make regular use of it – it is more than simply a game; rather it involves faith, superstition and imagination into an elaborate ritual.
People attempt to predict winning numbers through various means. Some such methods include praying to banana trees, reading candle drippings into holy water, fortune telling with bamboo sticks (esiimsi or siam si), or hunting morbidly interesting number combinations on license plate numbers and highway signs. Many of these superstitions have since been disproven by science; yet some remain widely held beliefs among locals.
Lottery players often ask their children or pets to help select numbers for them when picking lottery numbers, but some go one step further. Spotting an animal during preparation for a draw may be seen as a sure sign they’ll win; tortoises in particular are considered good luck symbols in Thailand.
Thai lotto tickets are pre-printed and equipped with several anti-counterfeiting features that prevent counterfeiters from purchasing them legally through standard channels. Furthermore, they’re only sold in “ticket pairs”, meaning a tourist is unlikely to win the grand prize of several million baht.
While official lottery draws may take place twice monthly, there are numerous underground gambling operations running parallel with them and are estimated to account for four or five times greater economic impact than government-run lotteries; they’re nearly impossible to crack down upon.
No matter your viewpoint, Thai lotto is an intriguing aspect of Thai culture that should be experienced for yourself. While not as lucrative as American Powerball, there still might be opportunities for you to win big if you follow some of these tips. Just remember it takes an incredible amount of luck to become the next winner; don’t be too disappointed if it doesn’t happen for you and if it does please treat any newfound riches responsibly – thank you, Bom!