Lottery in thailand is a popular pastime for many Thais. Though the top payout may not be as high as in other lotteries, the odds of winning are favorable compared to European and American lottery odds. While a lottery is essentially a game of chance, some tactics can improve your chances of success.
The official Thai lottery is run by the Government Lottery Office (GLO). It is drawn twice per month, on the first and 16th of each month. The prize amounts vary, but the minimum jackpot is six million baht. The lottery is one of the only legal forms of gambling in Thailand.
GLO sells tickets to national wholesalers, or brokers, who then sell them to retail venues, which in turn sell them to the public. The system has led to inflated ticket prices, as brokers and retail venues often add a percentage on top of the GLO price in order to generate their own revenue. In 2015, the military government cracked down on this practice by introducing a maximum price for tickets and banning the sale of tickets that feature numbers that are considered lucky.
Each thai lotto ticket features a six-digit number. To discourage counterfeiting, the government prints tickets on special yellow, thin, smooth paper with a two-tone watermark of Wayupak, a mythical Thai bird. The paper also contains two types of silk thread, one that can be seen with the naked eye and the other visible only under ultraviolet light. The paper is also coated with chemicals, and drops of bleach will show stains, while those without the chemical will not.
The prize money for thai lotto is determined by the numbers drawn, the number of tickets sold, and the number of winning tickets purchased. The winning numbers are announced after each drawing, which takes place on the first and sixteenth of each month. In addition to the main prizes, the lottery also offers bonus prizes. These are smaller prizes for matching two or three of the winning numbers.
To claim a prize, winners must present the winning ticket together with a valid ID card or passport for foreign bettors. They must also fill out a prize claim form and write their name at the back of the ticket. In case they have any questions, they can call the GLO Department of Prize Payments at 02-528-96-21. GLO will then verify the winning ticket and process the prize. Winners must also pay a 0.5% stamp duty on winnings from the government lottery and a 1% stamp duty on winnings from charitable lotteries. Those who win the top prize should expect to receive a check for around 200,000 baht. The rest of the prize money will go to the government for various activities and projects. The odds of winning the top prize are one in a million. However, these odds can change from draw to draw. The odds can be lower or higher depending on how many tickets are sold and how much is spent on the lottery.
