When it comes to gambling, Thailand has a unique approach. The country’s government-run lottery, called GLO, operates within a strict legislative framework, and the sums generated through ticket sales are dedicated to supporting national causes. GLO also sells lottery tickets directly to wholesalers, who in turn distribute them at a network of more than 14,700 authorized retail venues. The tickets are priced at 80 baht each and sold in pairs, although many retailers will add a percentage to the price of the ticket to generate income.
The resulting prices are often higher than those charged for foreigners, which makes it tempting for some players to seek out unofficial agencies to obtain their tickets. While these agents are not illegal, they do pose some risks. Many of them have a reputation for scamming unsuspecting gamblers, and there are plenty of stories on the internet about the bad experiences that have been had with these agents. It’s best to stick with official GLO outlets and the retail venues that are authorized to sell them, or risk being ripped off.
In addition to the normal prizes that are paid out in Thai lotto, there are additional bonus prize amounts for specific combinations of numbers. These are usually lower than the top prize, but they can still be quite substantial if you match enough numbers. The bonus prize amounts are drawn following the main draw, which is held twice a month.
Choosing your lottery numbers is a big decision. Many people choose their lucky numbers based on superstition or omens, such as the number of spots on a snake’s tail (which are associated with the number five), the number of rings on a tree trunk (“three” is lucky for marriage, “five” is luck for money, and “six” is for health), rats (“one” is a good number) and the color of an object. Many Thais also follow the advice of their elders and seek out guidance from spiritual entities such as ghosts, sages and fortune tellers.
Another source of divine guidance for lottery winners is the shrine to Mae Nak, a young woman who died in childbirth. Mae Nak’s devotees come to her temple on Sukhumvit Soi 77 and pray for her help with anything from guidance in a major life decision to a boost of fertility. A jar next to Mae Nak’s shrine contains ping-pong balls with numbers written on them; some of the faithful believe that these can guide their lottery luck.
The first thing to remember when you win a prize in a thai lotto is that you must collect your winnings by presenting your tickets and ID card or passport (for foreigners). You must also pay 0.5% stamp duty on government lottery winnings and 1% on charity lottery winnings. The prize money can be claimed at the local office of the GLO, which is located in Bangkok.
