The thai lotto is the official lottery of Thailand. It is regulated by the Government Lottery Office (GLO). The GLO is a state-run entity that has strict legal frameworks for how the lottery operates and what percentage of ticket sales will be used for national causes. It also uses high-tech security measures to deter counterfeiting.
The lottery is popular in Thailand, with many people betting large sums of money in the hope of becoming rich. It is estimated that 70% of Thais are regular lottery players. In addition to the official governmental lottery, there is an underground lottery system known as “huay” that is illegal but virtually impossible to stop. It involves a huge network of dealers operating parallel lotteries that generate more than 4-5 times the economic impact of the official governmental lottery.
To increase their chances of winning, some people use different strategies. Some of these include praying to banana trees, interpreting dreams, seeing animals in the build-up to a lottery draw, and visiting fortune tellers. Many Thais also visit monks to ask for a lucky number. Some of these monks have a reputation for being able to divine which numbers will be lucky.
In addition to the six-digit number, each thai lotto ticket has a two-tone watermark of Wayupak, a mythical bird. Printed on a special paper that can be stained with a drop of bleach, these watermarks make it easy to spot counterfeit tickets. The paper is also treated with chemicals to prevent it from staining. Those who sell lottery tickets are licensed by the GLO and must be locals. Most of them are poor, deaf or blind people who find this to be a career that does not require any skills and can help them survive day by day.
Purchasing a lottery ticket is very simple in Thailand. The GLO prints and sells them to wholesalers or brokers, who then distribute them to retail venues around the country. There are about 14,700 of these authorized venues. Some of these are small family-owned businesses and others are large convenience stores and other retailers. The price of a ticket is 80 baht. Retailers put a margin on top of the ticket to make a profit.
To claim a prize, you must submit your ticket with a valid ID or passport. If you win the first prize, you must submit your ticket at one of the three GLO offices in Bangkok within two years of the drawing date. You will also have to pay 0.5% stamp duty on the amount of your winnings. If you win a lower prize, you can take your ticket to a local agent who will give you cash. If you are a foreigner, you must pay 1% stamp duty on the winnings. You should write your full name and address at the back of your ticket. It is also a good idea to take photos of the ticket in case it is lost or stolen.
