Thais are an extremely superstitious people and constantly looking for ways to increase their luck in the bi-monthly Thai Lotto draw. Many turn to dreams or Mae Nak’s shrine in search of luck – while online gurus offer secret formulas for choosing winning numbers – in their efforts. Some even believe a bad dream or the number of their car might portend luck at lotteries!
However, lottery tickets have become a culturally unifying force in Thailand. Fate, faith and imagination all play into the game; often people sell motorcycles or even their homes in order to buy tickets; though such investments rarely yield results; in March 2015 alone one man in Chiang Mai committed suicide after selling his motorcycle in order to purchase lottery tickets that didn’t result in prize money winning.
Thai lottery operations are overseen by the Government Lottery Office (GLO), who print and distribute tickets directly to retailers for sale at their own price. Prizes are distributed twice monthly on the first and 16th, costing 80 baht each ticket but some retailers may charge more.
If you are lucky enough to win, GLO headquarters in Bangkok offer personal collections for winners. Simply present your ticket, valid identification document and bank account details when collecting. Alternatively, results can also be checked online or using their mobile app.
As well as the main prizes, second and third place winners also received various lesser awards including cash prizes and electronic items like televisions, fridges, washing machines, digital cameras etc. Fourth and fifth prizes offered modest cash amounts of 10,000 and 100,000 baht respectively; with one final grand prize offering a free trip to Thailand for two people!
To be eligible to collect your prize, present both your ticket and valid ID or passport to the GLO. They will calculate its value and provide you with a receipt; for foreign nationals this may also require submission of their passport.
Locals have claimed they’ve won the jackpot before, yet none actually did walk away with millions. Such schemes may also be illegal and lead to fraud; if you plan on playing Thai lotto yourself, make sure to read all rules and tips that appear online carefully before selecting numbers yourself or relying on someone else for that task. Patience will serve you best! Good luck and stay positive!
