The lottery, thai lotto hanoi, has a profound effect on the lives of Thais. More than just a game of chance, it unites people in common cause, and it fosters a sense of hope and optimism by offering the tantalizing prospect of a life-altering fortune. It is one of only two forms of legal gambling in the Land of Smiles, and it draws over 19 million people, almost 28.6% of the native population.
The official government lottery (Thai:
Lottery tickets are pre-printed, include a variety of anti-counterfeiting features and can only be purchased in ticket pairs. In addition, they are sold with a schedule of prizes and ancillary information printed on the verso. Each individual ticket is priced at 80 baht, while the ticket pair costs 160 baht. The Draw Chairman randomly selects a colored ball to determine the order of lesser prize draws. The colors signify different prize categories: yellow for the second prize, pink for the third prize, green for the fourth prize, and blue for the fifth prize.
The first prize is awarded to players who match six digits correctly, while the second and third prizes are won by matching five and four digits respectively. There used to be a bonus prize for getting all six digits correct, but this was abolished by the military government in 2015.
