The Thai Lottery is one of only two forms of legal gambling in the Land of Smiles. Held twice a month on the first and 16th of each month, it is played by over 19 million natives. The lottery is a popular pastime in the country and many people buy tickets as a form of entertainment. In addition to providing the opportunity for a life-changing fortune, the lottery also provides a social experience that fosters a sense of hope and optimism.
There are several ways to purchase Thai Lottery tickets. Some of them are online, while others can be purchased at local convenience stores. The tickets are pre-printed and include a number of anti-counterfeiting features. They are sold in ticket-pairs, with each individual ticket priced at 80 baht. The verso of each ticket includes the schedule of prizes, ancillary information and conditions.
To win the jackpot you must match all six digits in correct order. For the second prize you need to match all five numbers. Third prize is for those with the first three digits in correct order and last two digits are not matching. Fourth prize is for those who match the last two digits. Finally, fifth prize is for those who match the first four digits in correct order.
Aside from the aforementioned numbers, Thais often choose their lucky numbers based on omens and signs. They may visit a spirit tree and pray to it, or look for a sign in their daily lives that will give them a good chance of winning. This could be as simple as noticing that the same number appears frequently on the plate of a car driven by someone who is unlucky or seeing a lion dance on television.
The lottery is also a popular activity amongst the working class and the poor in the country. Often times street vendors sell tickets for a much lower price than the official government rates, which helps them make ends meet. Typically, they are deaf or blind people who use this as their main source of income.
The lottery is only available for purchase within the country, though some foreigners have been known to win a prize while visiting Thailand. To claim a prize, winners must present their ticket/s, Thai ID card (for natives) or passport (for foreigners). In addition, they are required to pay 0.5% stamp duty on government lottery winnings and 1% for charitable lottery winnings.
