Thai Lotto, or Lotterie of Thailand, is held twice each month on the first and sixteenth. Aside from being an entertaining form of gambling in Thailand, Thai Lotto serves as an important revenue generator for its government – and 19 million Thais regularly partaking – spending approximately 76 billion baht annually!
Thai lotto draws are broadcast live, and to collect their prize, winners must present a ticket that was drawn. Prizes range from small cash amounts up to cars or houses – please be aware that certain rules and regulations must be observed when purchasing lottery tickets in Thailand – it would be advisable to read over these thoroughly prior to purchasing tickets to avoid any issues that might arise later on.
If you have purchased a winning ticket, visit any GLO office and show it along with both your Thai ID card or passport to claim it. Alternatively, check online results via their official website of the GLO.
Thai lottery tickets can be bought from convenience stores or street vendors; however, prices tend to be more expensive compared with buying them from an online lottery dealer; payout rates and chances of winning increase more significantly so it may be wiser for most people to purchase their tickets this way.
There are two kinds of Thai lottery tickets for buyers to select – government lottery and charity lottery (TCL). Each differs in its first prize payouts and taxes due upon winning amounts; government lottery tickets offer top prizes of six million baht with bonus prizes totalling 30 million, whereas TCL tickets boast three million-baht first prizes with bonus prizes totalling 22 million baht.
Prior to 2018, most lottery tickets sold in Thailand were sold by private retailers who invested heavily in advertising in order to attract customers. Unfortunately, however, several outlets that engaged in such sales have recently been closed due to violations of direct sale law; such charges included overpriced tickets sold and even money laundering.
Although Thailand’s crackdown on private sellers has resulted in lottery players opting for their favourite vendors more frequently, lottery-goers remain drawn by high prize money, low ticket price and credit purchases – as well as their superstition that certain numbers are lucky than others. Lotto-happy Thais may often peruse license plate numbers of cars involved in serious accidents in search of numbers they believe might bring luck – this stark reminder shows just how alive number superstition remains even with limited sales available from vendors.