The thai lotto is a state-run lottery in Thailand that runs twice a month, on the first and sixteenth. The lottery is one of only two forms of legal gambling permitted in the country and is governed by a stringent legislative framework. The winnings from thai lotto ticket sales are used to fund national causes. The GLO prints and distributes the tickets through a network of national wholesalers known as brokers who then sell them to 14,760 authorized retail venues nationwide.
A thai lottery ticket has six digits and a unique barcode. The barcode is scanned at the point of sale and the numbers are drawn by computer. The winnings are announced by a narrator at the end of each drawing. The top prize is three million baht. There are also other prizes available, depending on the combination of numbers struck by the player.
Gambling is an important social activity in Thailand and although it is banned by law, there are still plenty of gambling dens to be found throughout the country. In fact, the country is said to spend about $10 billion a year on illegal gambling in “huay tai in” (“underground lottery houses”), compared to just over $3 billion for the official government lottery.
Although gambling is a popular pastime in the country, it is frowned upon by religion and there are some who feel that lotteries violate Buddhist morals. However, the truth is that even monks are expected to provide their followers with lucky numbers and to advise on other gambling options.
The thai lotto is run by the government and is regulated by a governing body, the Government Lottery Office (GLO). It is based in Bangkok and operates a network of more than 14,760 retail outlets throughout the nation. The GLO has a strict legislative framework that governs how the lottery operates, how prizes are paid out, and what percentage of its funds will be channelled to support national causes.
There are two types of thai lotto tickets: The TGL (Thailand Government Lottery) and the TCL (Thailand Charity Lottery). The TGL has a higher first prize than the TCL but a lower second prize. In the past, there were a number of jackpot-style prizes available, including 22 and 30 million baht. However, these were discontinued after the military government took power in 2006.
Lottery results are posted online and in local newspapers. The winning numbers are announced at the end of each drawing and winners must present their ticket together with a valid photo ID to claim their prize. Winners must also pay a 0.5% stamp duty on winnings from government lotteries and 1% on winnings from charitable lotteries. Those who are not residents of Thailand must pay an additional 5% tax on their winnings. The lottery’s website also features a number of educational resources for players. It provides a history of the lottery in Thailand, as well as detailed information about the prizes and how to play the game.
