Thai Lotto (TLT) is a form of gambling in which participants choose numbers in order to win money, popular in Thailand, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Pakistan. Unlike most forms of gambling in Thailand, government-run lotteries are legal. Draws can be seen live on television. Winners have received prizes up to 30 Million Baht with two lotteries held monthly on 1st and 16th. These draws are overseen by GLO and take place twice each month on the 1st and 16th.
According to a 2021 report by Chulalongkorn University’s Centre for Gambling Studies (CGS), millions of people are addicted to buying lottery tickets. Nearly 5 million Thais, or 21% of buyers, admitted they were addicted to both legal and illegal lotteries; most vulnerable were youths aged 20 or under and Nualnoi Treerat, CGS director advised. He advocated regulation of lotterie sales so as to make them less addictive.
Thailand boasts a robust underground lottery system that runs parallel to its official counterpart, estimated to be four to five times larger in terms of economic impact and nearly impossible to stop. Players purchase individual numbers instead of buying tickets; prizes may be smaller but still add up significantly over time.
Although many countries around the world have banned lottery gambling, Thai people still purchase lottery tickets regularly as many believe that lottery is more than a form of gambling; many think winning the lottery could change their lives dramatically and provide financial security during difficult times in life. For them, money won in lottery draws is not simply reward but insurance against potential hardship.
Thailand forbids most forms of gambling, yet lottery is an integral part of national culture. More than just a game, lottery represents faith, imagination and superstition that are deeply embedded within its society. People visit shrines and temples dedicated to luck in hopes that one may receive a sign to lead them toward their fate – like Mae Nak’s ghost who serves as protection from illness and bad luck; next to Mae Nak’s shrine lies a small jar filled with numbered ping-pong balls next to Mae Nak’s statue – hoping they may receive guidance towards their fateful destiny!
Bom, a 27-year-old factory worker in Phetchabun’s central province, spends hours each day selecting his lottery numbers with great care. He shares this strategy with friends via a Line group chat; although his process appears to work for him, Bom insists it’s more about enjoying the challenge of picking numbers than believing they are lucky ones.