The Thailand Lottery is one of two forms of legal gambling in the Land of Smiles and is played by over 19 million Thai citizens; a staggering 28.6% of the country’s native population. Operated by the Government Lottery Office (GLO), lottery draws take place twice a month on the 1st and 16th of every month and has become an integral part of the national culture for those that participate.
Despite the fact that the lottery isn’t the most impressive game out there in terms of jackpot prizes, it remains extremely popular amongst the Thai people and has become an important ritual and tradition. There are a number of reasons why the Thai people chase after lucky numbers. First and foremost, the game is an inexpensive way to have a flutter and it also helps boost their luck.
In addition, many Thais believe that the numbers on the ticket can bring them good luck in different ways. For example, some people choose their numbers based on symbolic numbers such as age, birth dates or marriages. Others choose their numbers based on the names of family members or friends. Another way to pick your number is to look at the license plates of cars that have been in accidents. If the accident happened in the vicinity of a specific number, then that number will be lucky for you.
Some people even go to great lengths in order to get their hands on a winning ticket. They will search for old newspapers and cut pair numbers and then purchase tickets based on those numbers. They will even visit local restaurants and cafes to find the right tickets. However, this practice is frowned upon by the authorities and can lead to serious consequences for those that are caught.
It is also worth noting that the GLO has a strict legislative framework that governs how the lottery operates, how winners are selected and what percentage of the proceeds from ticket sales will be used to support national causes. This ensures that buyers are not at risk of being sold a fake or counterfeit ticket. Additionally, all tickets must have a watermark on them in order to be considered authentic. In addition, it is advised to only buy tickets from shopkeepers that sell them to locals rather than tourists.
The new digital lottery sales system, which began on Thursday through the Paotang mobile application, has been an instant success. In just a few hours, more than 500,000 tickets have been sold. The average buyer bought four or five tickets. The average price was 80 baht per ticket. GLO director Noon Sansanakhom said that digital sales will be expanded to additional retail venues in the future.
