The lottery is an integral part of Thai culture. Not only is it used as entertainment and to raise money for charities, but its complex operation ties together spiritual, cultural, economic and superstitious elements which all play a part. Over one third of Thai people regularly engage in lottery play – yet its presence can remain obscure to outsiders who try to understand its inner workings.

The official government lottery in Thailand takes place twice every month on the 1st and 16th. Winning numbers are drawn at the Government Lottery Office (GLO), live-drawn, and broadcast live over television; prizes range between 2 million baht to an outstanding jackpot prize of 84 million baht per ticket won.

Purchase of lottery tickets can be easy and enjoyable: simply visit your local vendor and purchase one with your preferred digits – whether that means selecting them yourself or having the computer generate them automatically – as well as checking results online. However, there are some things to keep in mind before buying tickets:

Note that most lottery buyers do not represent wealthy people. According to a 2006 report published by the International Gambling Studies Journal, two-thirds of lottery players fall into either poor or lower middle class brackets; therefore their average monthly income falls under half that of national average. Furthermore, many tickets sold are purchased by young children and youths.

At present, an alarming number of people are addicted to buying lottery tickets; according to Chulalongkorn University’s Centre for Gambling Studies, an estimated five million or so people are hooked on both official government lotteries as well as illegal ones that can be purchased either online or locally. Such is its severity that Thailand’s Ministry of Health launched an awareness campaign about lottery addiction.

Even after repeated warnings, lottery purchases continue to increase. GLO has been accused of failing to clearly distinguish its operator and regulator roles, leading to conflicts of interest; furthermore, they’ve also been charged with monopolizing the industry by blocking other operators.

But for many people, the grand aspirations associated with lottery wins outweigh any worries. After all, who wouldn’t want a shot at winning billion baht? Just remember: it takes more than luck alone to succeed – strategy must also play a part. Bom, who has won multiple prizes before agrees. Though he does not believe in “lucky numbers”, he still follows an elaborate process when selecting his numbers; even maintaining a Line group with friends to discuss different tactics used. “I don’t gamble but have fun trying out different strategies,” says Bom. “I don’t view gambling as gambling,” he adds.