The thai lotto is the official national lottery of Thailand administered by The Government Lottery Office (GLO). The lottery draws take place on the first and sixteenth of each month and it is one of only two forms of legalised gambling allowed in the country. The GLO is a state-owned entity and as such it adheres to strict laws and regulations regarding ticket sales and prize payouts.
In addition to being a source of entertainment, the lottery is also a major contributor to the nation’s economy. Over half of the proceeds are distributed as prizes while the remainder is funnelled to a variety of social activities and national causes. In recent years, the government has instituted new rules and limits for ticket prices in order to curb price gouging and reduce speculation.
Tickets are sold through a multi-tier distribution system that extends from the GLO printing plant to individual buyers. The GLO sells to national wholesalers, often referred to as brokers, who in turn distribute to a network of 14,760 registered retail vendors throughout the country. Vendors are required to be locals and must register with the GLO in order to sell lottery tickets. A small percentage of the total revenue is shared by brokers, street vendors, and other distributors. The majority of the money is awarded as prizes to those lucky enough to hit the winning numbers.
While the odds of winning are relatively low, the thai lotto is still popular among Thais. Despite the fact that the top prizes are not very high, the lottery offers a ritual and tradition many people want to be part of. Some even go as far as to chase numbers that are considered to be lucky. While a little more regulation and higher top prizes would be nice, the thai lotto is not a scam and is safe to play.
To deter counterfeiting, thai lottery tickets are printed on special yellow, thin, and smooth paper with a two-tone watermark of Wayupak, a mythical Thai bird. Each ticket also has two types of silk thread; one can be seen with the naked eye, and the other will only become visible under an ultraviolet light. The paper is coated with chemicals that react to a drop of bleach. Without the chemical, the paper will not show any stains or blots.
Winning lottery players must present their tickets to claim their prize. In addition to their tickets, they must also show a government-issued ID card or passport (for foreigners). Prize money is paid in baht. In most cases, winnings are taxable.
The Thai lottery has been a source of weird and wonderful stories. One of the most bizarre stories involving the lottery involves a man who won over 30 million baht and fulfilled a vow to suck on a statue’s nipples. Residents in the area protested, believing that his actions angered the spirit of the Phisuea Samut statue and caused five deaths. Despite the controversy, the man continued to fulfill his vow and claimed the full prize.
