Aside from being a fun way to win money, lottery is also a major part of Thai culture. Many Thais chase lucky numbers in the hope that they’ll strike it big. Others visit shrines and temples to pray for divine guidance. The famous ghost Mae Nak is a popular destination; her devotees seek her blessing on anything from exam success to fertility. Next to her shrine on Sukhumvit Soi 77 is a clay pot filled with numbered ping-pong balls – she’s said to be able to guide them to lottery fortune.
The Thai Lottery is a state-sanctioned game with two draws per month, held on the 1st and 16th of each month and broadcast live on TV. It’s a fairly simple lottery to play: you purchase a ticket with your favorite numbers and wait for the results to be announced. Prizes are awarded based on the number of matching numbers and the prize tier.
Winners must present their tickets and a valid ID card or passport for foreign bettors. They must also fill out a claim form and write down the details on the back of their winning ticket. Finally, they must pay a 0.5% stamp duty on government lottery winnings and 1% stamp duty on charitable lottery winnings.
Prizes are paid out within two years of the draw date. Winners can choose to receive their prize in cash, or have it credited to their bank account. The lottery website also offers a mobile application to allow players to track their winnings.
In addition to the main prize, there are several smaller prizes to be won. The smallest is 40,000 baht, while the highest is 30 million baht. There are also ten bonus prizes of 100,000 baht each. The lottery website lists the exact prize amounts for each of these categories.
Although the military government recently cracked down on gambling, many Thais still gamble. This aching need to bet has given rise to illegal lottery operators, which offer larger jackpots, better odds of winning, and the convenience of credit purchases. As a result, their prices are often much higher than the official Thai lottery’s. In addition, they don’t offer refunds if you lose.
