The thai lotto is one of only two forms of legal gambling in Thailand. It takes place twice a month and is played by over 19 million Thais, representing 28.6% of the nation’s native population. Although the thai lottery is popular, it is not easy to win. It requires a combination of luck and faith, as well as some unconventional strategies. Many winners have claimed that interpreting dreams, observing animal behavior in the buildup to a draw, and asking children to pick numbers are all useful methods. In addition, some have found that praying to banana trees, dripping candles in holy water, and fortune telling with bamboo sticks are also effective.
The first prize is usually several million baht. It can be won by either the winner of a single ticket or a group of tickets. Winners are required to present their winning ticket, a valid identification document, and bank account details to claim their prize at the GLO headquarters in Bangkok. In addition, the prize winner must shoulder a 0.5% stamp duty for government lottery prizes and 1% for charitable lotteries.
Each thai lottery ticket features six-digit numbers, as well as a two-tone watermark of a mythical bird called a Wayupak. In order to prevent counterfeiting, the paper is specially treated. When tested with drops of bleach, the paper will show stains, but not when it is treated with special chemicals. Moreover, the lottery ticket has a security feature that can only be seen under ultraviolet light and a barcode.
To purchase a thai lottery ticket, buyers must visit a licensed vendor. These vendors are locals who have registered with the government lottery office (GLO). They must have a valid identification card to sell tickets and can sell up to three tickets at a time. They are also required to pay a small fee to be licensed to operate.
A ticket is worth 20 baht ($0.60). After purchasing it, the ticket must be affixed to an official receipt. The receipt must be signed by the seller and dated within a year from the date of purchase. The receipt is then submitted to the GLO for verification.
The results are published in the GLO’s newspaper, and the prizes are awarded at the ceremony. The winnings are shared among the top 10 finalists, with half going to the winner of the first prize and the other half to the second-place finisher. In the past, there was a bonus prize of 22 or 30 million baht for first-place winners. However, the military government decided to remove this prize after 1 August 2015. The remaining winnings are divided between street vendors (12%), ticket wholesalers (20%), and foundation, association, and organization discount (3%). The remainder of the revenue is funneled into the prize fund.
