One of the two forms of legalized gambling in Thailand, the Thai lottery takes place twice a month on the first and 16th and is played by nearly 19 million natives; a full 28% of the population. The lottery is more than just a game, however; it offers a lifeline to the poor and is often an investment in a better future. A street vendor carting a brown wooden box full of lotto tickets strapped to a bicycle is the archetypal image of Thailand’s ubiquitous street trade, and this kind of small-scale economic activity has many hidden social implications.
Bom, a 59-year-old man with cerebral palsy who sells tickets outside a public hospital, is a good example of this. His meticulous, highly-practiced process for choosing lottery numbers provides a glimpse into the complex web of faith, imagination and superstition that permeate lottery culture in Thailand. With a conspiratorial wink, he pulls out his phone and displays a photo of a chart with a wheel and a set of numbers, which he then pencils down on a sheet of paper. He then crosses out the numbers in a certain order, a strategy he calls “the magic formula.”
Aside from his carefully-honed methodology, his personal beliefs about lucky numbers aren’t particularly unique. Many people in Thailand use the same methods to choose their numbers, citing messages from the cosmos that are hidden in mundane events like car accidents or celebrity deaths. Some also consult online gurus who publish cryptic formulas and tips about picking the winning numbers.
Although lottery sales are booming across the country, the vast majority of ticket-buyers are poor and lower middle class. According to a recent report, more than two-thirds of those who play the lottery are living below the poverty line. Some even sell their personal possessions, such as motorcycles or homes, to purchase tickets. This doomed gamble often ends in heartbreak when the dreams of a better future don’t pan out; a Chiang Mai resident committed suicide after the lottery numbers he purchased didn’t come up.
Despite its inherent risks, the lottery continues to be popular in Thailand due to a variety of factors. The bi-monthly draw attracts a wide audience of punters, including foreign tourists and expats, and there are multiple agencies selling tickets both online and in person. In addition, the convenience of credit purchases and the ability to view results online have helped to increase popularity among those who want to try their luck without a trip to a physical lottery agency.
