How to Play the Lottery Online in Thailand

The lottery is a popular form of gambling in Thailand, with participants buying tickets and pinning their hopes on a sequence of numbers. The winner, if lucky enough, can win a life-altering fortune. It’s also a source of revenue for the organizers, entertainment for the community, and an economic stimulant when winners invest their windfall back into the local economy. And despite the short odds, the enticing prospect of winning can fuel a lot of hope and optimism.

The Thai lottery (Thai: slaakkinaebng, RTGS: salak kin baeng) is administered by the Government Lottery Office and takes place on the first and sixteenth of each month. It’s one of only two forms of legalised gambling in the Land of Smiles, and is played by nearly 19 million people; 28% of the country’s population. The ubiquity of the brown wooden box full of lottery tickets strapped to street vendors’ bicycles is an image that is instantly recognisable as part of Thai culture.

Tickets are pre-printed, include a number of anti-counterfeiting features, and can only be purchased in ticket pairs at prices of 80 baht per pair or 160 baht per pair. They are not sold individually, and are only available within Thailand. Those who buy lottery tickets can claim their prizes by showing their ticket/s and valid ID card or passport. Winners must pay a 0.5% stamp duty on government lottery winnings and 1% stamp duty on charity lottery winnings. A “draw chairman” randomly selects a colored ball to determine the order of lesser prize draws: yellow for second prize, pink for third prize, green for fourth prize, and blue for fifth prize.