The Thai lottery is more than a national game: it is also an integral part of everyday life for millions. In this article we explore why so many Thais invest their hope in its numbers, as well as its connections with larger issues of class inequality and upward mobility in Thailand.
Thai lotto draws are held every first and sixteenth day of every month, and prize money varies according to which category and which digits match in your ticket. The top prizes for winning TGL or TCL tickets is 2 million baht each; additional awards exist for matching one, five or 100 numbers on your lottery ticket. In order to claim your prize at GLO office.
There’s an old joke that poor people play the lottery while rich people invest in stocks. Yet the government-run lottery in Thailand actually provides one of few legal forms of gambling available within its borders; thus offering low-income Thais another source of income while at the same time acting as an indirect form of taxation on them. Many economists contend this lottery serves primarily as an income generator while acting more as a hidden tax burden upon poor populations.
Though most Western studies of gambling behavior focus on psychological mechanisms underlying superstitious beliefs, few have studied its impact in specific contexts such as Thai lotteries. Through semi-structured interviews and thematic coding this exploratory study explores how superstitious beliefs influence lottery initiation and maintenance among Thai consumers.
Bom, 29, from Nonthaburi’s factory worker ranks, takes lottery numbers as more than just random combinations; he believes in the powers of numbers and fate and uses various mystical practices when selecting lottery numbers. “I’ve been playing lottery for years, yet never won anything. Therefore I try my luck,” says Bom.
Bom selects his lottery numbers by closing his eyes and placing his hand into a brown case, searching for numbers which come closest to his name or that correspond with special events or people; for instance, if his wife’s aunt turns 80 he may select number 81 as a good luck gesture.
David consults online gurus who claim to have secret formulas for picking winning numbers, and reads results of past lotteries to learn which numbers have proven most popular. But ultimately what matters is having fun: “I enjoy choosing my numbers with friends on our Line group chat where we discuss various strategies.”
Winners who wish to claim their prizes must present both their passport and winning lottery ticket to the General Lotterie Office (GLO), along with an additional 1 baht tax per 200 baht won (on top of the 5% government tax already included on each ticket itself). This step is vital, since GLO serves as a central authority that oversees state lotteries as well as confiscate tickets that fail to pay taxes, distributing proceeds accordingly to local authorities.