The Thai lottery is one of only two forms of legal gambling in the Land of Smiles, and a beloved pastime for over 19 million natives; 28.6% of the country’s population. The bi-monthly draw is an integral part of the fabric of daily life, a source of entertainment and social connection, and a potential economic stimulator as winners spend their windfalls in their local communities. Despite its popularity, the lottery is also a major source of frustration for street vendors and others who sell tickets. Often, vendors can’t compete with big online retailers that offer bigger prizes, better odds, and credit purchases.
Unlike many western countries, where the lottery is conducted through computer software, in Thailand, tickets are sold in pairs. The top and bottom portions of a ticket are printed with the same numbers, so that each pair is a complete lottery entry. The lower portion of the ticket includes the draw date and winning numbers. The tickets are pre-printed and include a series of anti-counterfeiting features. The tickets also display the schedule of prizes, ancillary information, and conditions. In addition to the tickets, the lottery requires that winners present their winning ticket/pair and either a Thai ID card or passport for verification.
Lottery results can be checked online or at the official website of the government lottery office, which is located in the capital, Bangkok. The website also offers a mobile app, which allows users to check their lottery results and win money on the go. The website is available in several languages and is free to use.
To play the Thai Lottery, choose your numbers between 0-9 or select Quick Pick (QP) for the lottery computer to randomly select them for you. Then, choose your bet type. The first five digits must match the winning number exactly to win the jackpot. The last digit must be within the winning range of 1 to 9 in order to qualify for the bonus prize.
Besides the main prize, there are three lesser prizes, ranging from B40,000 to B10,000. The winner of the lowest prize is determined by a random selection of a colored ball from four different colors that signify different prizes: yellow for second prize, pink for third prize, green for fourth prize, and blue for fifth prize. Each prize level has a different amount of tickets that can be won. In the past, there were also two-digit prize and special prize numbers. However, the military government has eliminated these prize levels as of Aug. 1, 2015. The lottery results are announced on the first and 16th of each month.
