thai lotto is the official national lottery of Thailand and one of only two forms of legal gambling in the country. The lottery takes place twice per month, on the first and sixteenth of each month, and is administered by the government lottery office (GLO). The lottery is popular amongst Thais for its relatively low cost, high chances of winning a prize, and ability to pay with credit cards. It is also a source of state revenue.
A total of 19 million people play the lottery each month, spending 67 billion baht on the government lottery and another 10 billion baht on illegal operations that operate parallel to the GLO-administered government lottery. Unlike other lotteries, where players choose their own numbers to play, the official Thai lottery is pre-printed with the winning numbers. Players can find the latest results and odds by visiting official websites or by purchasing tickets at authorised retail venues across the country.
The ticket for the thai lotto is printed on yellow, thin, and smooth paper with a watermark of the Wayupak bird. It also features two silk threads, one that is visible with the naked eye, and the other that will only appear when the ticket is held up to a light. The paper is also treated with chemicals that will stain the paper if it comes into contact with bleach. This is designed to discourage counterfeit tickets.
In addition to the six-digit winning number, a two-digit bonus prize is drawn for each draw. Previously, there was a jackpot prize, but that was eliminated after the military government took over in 2014.
Unlike other countries where the lottery is regulated by a government agency, Thailand’s lottery is run entirely by private companies. It is a multi-tiered market that includes the GLO, who prints the tickets, wholesalers, and retailers. A percentage of the profits from ticket sales is donated to support national causes.
When a winner wins a prize, they must present the ticket together with a valid ID card or passport to claim it. Winnings of 20,000 baht or less can be cashed out at authorized retail venues, while larger amounts must be claimed at the head office of the GLO in Nonthaburi. Winners must also shoulder a 0.5% stamp duty on winnings from the government lottery and 1% stamp duty on winnings from charitable lotteries.
The lottery is a major source of income for many deaf and blind people in Thailand who depend on it as a career that requires little skill or education. These sellers often increase the price of lottery tickets to make a profit and keep the difference even though it is technically illegal. They also take advantage of the superstition that certain numbers are lucky and sell tickets with these numbers for more than they are worth. It’s not uncommon to see a seller selling tickets with the license plate numbers of crashed vehicles or highway numbers where accidents have occurred.
