In a country that strictly prohibits all other gambling activities, lottery play remains popular. It is an essential source of income for millions of Thais and has even earned them some clout in international lotteries where winning numbers are drawn bi-monthly. In fact, it is so popular that the government recently introduced a maximum price for tickets in an attempt to keep street prices down. It also introduced a new type of ticket that allows people to select the same number for two consecutive draws, increasing their chances of winning.
The state-run lottery is governed by strict laws that dictate how it operates, what percentage of the proceeds will be awarded as prizes, and how much of the rest will go to support national causes. Tickets are purchased from the government-controlled GLO and then distributed to wholesalers who sell them to more than 14,700 authorized retail venues throughout the nation. Each ticket has the Thai government seal printed on it and must be sold with a valid GLO ticket slip.
Although the lottery is primarily a financial enterprise, it has often been used as a political tool. In 1910, King Rama VI banned lottery houses in a move to promote the image of a modern, civilised nation. The prohibition was lifted in 1925, however, as he was keen to promote his reformist agenda and impress the British.
Lottery numbers are selected by a variety of methodologies, and there are many belief systems that underpin them. For Bom, a young security guard, the selection process is more than an academic exercise. With a conspiratorial wink, he pulls out his smartphone and displays a photo of a chart with a wheel and a set of numbers. He then consults the chart and scribbles down a list of numbers on paper before crossing them out in a specific pattern.
Other lottery participants may seek divine guidance by visiting ghostly shrines or seeking advice from monks. For Buddhists, the lottery is a way to make merit and win good fortune, aligning with central Buddhist beliefs that positive deeds will be rewarded. Those who choose to visit temples to earn merit will often also pay for lottery consultations, which are provided by monks as part of their regular services to the faithful.
The prize money for the Thai lottery is quite large and the chances of winning are fairly high, but there are still some catches when it comes to winning the jackpot. The first thing to note is that winners must claim their prize within two years of the drawing date in order to avoid losing the prize money. In addition, there are taxes that must be paid, depending on the type of ticket purchased and the amount won. Smaller sums can be cashed out at any GLO-authorized retail venue, while larger amounts must be claimed at the head office in Nonthaburi. In some cases, the prize money will be deposited into a bank account.