The solitary image of the Thai street vendor carting a box full of lottery tickets strapped to his bike is a ubiquitous symbol of the country’s gambling culture. The bi-monthly draws are the most popular form of legal gambling in Thailand, used by nearly 19 million natives and accounting for 28.6% of the country’s gross domestic product. But lottery tickets offer much more than just the chance to win a fortune; they foster belief systems woven into the fabric of Thai cultural identity, and they are often sold as a last resort for those who have few other options for a better future.
The basic premise of the lottery is simple enough: participants purchase tickets, pin their hopes on a sequence of numbers and then hope that their selection matches the winning numbers. The draw, conducted by a random number generator, ensures fairness and preserves the integrity of the game. But the significance of the lottery is deeper than that, rooted in the country’s history and its religious beliefs. It’s a revenue generator for organizers, a source of entertainment for spectators and a potential economic stimulus as winners, flush with their windfall, inject it into the local economy.
Lottery tickets in Thailand are pre-printed, include a number of anti-counterfeiting features and can only be purchased in ticket pairs at a price of 80 baht per pair. Ticket prices vary depending on the type of bet, and each ticket includes an expiration date. The draw is run by the Lottery Office (GLO) in accordance with state law, which stipulates that at least 28% of ticket sales go toward prize money. The remainder is divided into a smaller percentage for the cost of administration and a larger percentage for administrative expenses.
While the prizes offered by the GLO may seem a bit stingy, there is a reason why the lottery has grown to such enormous proportions in the country. Many people believe that the more money they invest in a lottery ticket, the more likely they are to win. This mindset is exacerbated by the fact that lottery prizes are often announced on television and in newspapers, where there is an abundance of visual stimulation.
In addition to being a way for some to gain financial stability, the lottery offers a supplemental income for disabled people in the country. According to Don Willcox, co-founder of the Foundation to Encourage the Potential of Disabled Persons, a number of disabled individuals sell lottery tickets in order to make a living. They are often unable to find traditional work in the country, where employers may not be willing to make reasonable accommodations for them, such as installing ramps or widening doors.
In addition to the official government lottery, there are also many underground lottery games. These operate under different rules than the official lottery, but they still provide a means of earning money for those who wish to win. For example, the underground lottery allows people to buy individual numbers at a lower price than the official lottery, and some of them even offer cash prizes for those who match all six digits in a particular order.
