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On the first and 16th of every month, when Thai lottery numbers are drawn live on television, the nation is gripped by hope. Millions of people tune in, clutching tickets in their hands, to watch the winning numbers come up. The lottery is one of only two forms of legal gambling in Thailand, and it draws an even larger crowd than horse racing. But it’s not just about chance; lottery participation is rooted in deeper belief systems that tangle with Buddhist doctrines of merit and good fortune.
There are many ways to play the lottery in Thailand. Most purchase tickets from vendors registered with the Government Lottery Office (GLO), which sells the tickets in pairs for 80 baht each. The tickets are pre-printed with a six-digit number and include anti-counterfeiting features,[2] so they can’t be modified. Each ticket is also marked with a schedule of prizes, ancillary information, and conditions.
The GLO also holds a lottery-related event for each prize tier, drawing a single two-digit number from the total pool of numbers for the first prize. Then a draw chairman randomly selects a colored ball, which identifies the order of the lesser-prize draws. Yellow for the second prize, pink for the third prize, green for the fourth prize, and blue for the fifth prize. The number drawn for the sixth-place prize is then announced, as are the +-1 special prize numbers.
As the draw draws near, lottery players scour their lists of lucky numbers for any hints to help them win. Often, they will consult with online gurus like Thai Lottery King or My4Website whose pages are devoted to cryptic lottery number formulas and tips. They will also visit temples to make merit and ask monks for help with selecting their lucky numbers, a practice that aligns with Buddhism’s beliefs of merit-making and good luck.
Whether they are trying to improve their odds at winning the grand prize or simply want a better life, the lottery is often seen as a way to attain those dreams. It is a common and legitimate form of financial risk-taking, and while some wealthy Thais play, the vast majority of lottery participants are from poor and lower middle class households.
Despite this, the lottery remains controversial. In the past, it has been used as a tool by military dictators in their quest to control the country. In more recent times, the lottery has been protested as a symbol of corruption, and in October 1973, activists burned down the GLO building. Nonetheless, the lottery continues to attract millions of patrons, including the country’s poor and struggling. It is not only a source of joy and excitement for many, but a critical revenue stream for the nation. The lottery is more than just a game, it’s an entire culture. And that culture is rife with mysticism and lore.
