The lottery is an enduringly popular form of gambling in Thailand. Every citizen, regardless of income, can participate in the bi-monthly government lottery (slaakkinaebng) held by The Government Lottery Office (GLO). Players choose numbers based on a variety of factors. Whether it’s the evocative short odds printed on a ticket or messages from the cosmos disguised in seemingly ordinary events, each player has a unique way of selecting their numbers.

Regardless of the number selection, the odds are stacked against winning a top prize. Unlike most western lotteries, which feature a single top prize of ten million dollars or more, the Thai lottery features a series of smaller prizes. Matching a first-prize six-digit number wins a minimum of 6 million baht. There are also prizes for matching the last two digits, third-prize digits and fifth-prize digits.

The ticket, called a “slaakkinaebng”, is pre-printed with a number of anti-counterfeiting features and includes the schedule of prizes, ancillary information and conditions. Tickets are sold in ticket pairs and must be presented at the lottery station to be validated and purchased.

The lottery is one of only two forms of legal gambling in Thailand and is played by over 19 million people; a staggering 28.6% of the nation’s population. It’s not only a source of revenue for organizers and the state but, more importantly, a cultural touchstone that unites people in the hope of winning big and fuels a spirit of optimism and change. It’s no wonder, then, that the lottery is a symbol of national pride and an important contributor to the economy, both in terms of direct spending by winners and indirect economic benefits resulting from increased consumer confidence and consumption.