The thai lotto is one of the most popular forms of gambling in Thailand. It is organized by the government and managed by the Government lottery office (GLO). In 2014, it was reported that 67 million people of different ages played the Government lottery, spending around 36 billion baht. However, the underground lottery, known as huay tai in, is far more popular with an estimated $10 billion spent annually on this form of gambling.
In addition to being able to play the lottery online, Thais can also buy tickets in supermarkets and convenience stores. These vendors are licensed by the GLO and can be trusted to sell genuine lottery tickets. They may even be able to provide you with advice about how to play the lottery. The Government also has a number of websites where it publishes the results and offers other information about the lottery.
There are two drawings each month for the thai lottery – on the first and 16th of the month. The drawing takes place in the GLO headquarters and is broadcast live on TV. The prize money varies depending on the type of ticket purchased. Typically, the first prize is three million baht. The second and third prizes are 500,000 and 2,000,000 baht respectively. The fourth and fifth prizes are 100,000 and 200,000 baht respectively.
A winner must present the winning ticket together with his or her passport to claim the prize. Winners must also fill out a form that is provided by the GLO. In addition, winners should sign the back of the winning ticket and write down the details. The winner must also pay 0.5% stamp duty on winnings from the Government lottery and 1% on winnings from charitable lotteries.
Each lottery ticket is printed on yellow paper that is thin and smooth. It has a watermark of Wayupak, a mythical bird, that is visible with the naked eye or under ultraviolet light. The paper is also infused with chemicals so that a drop of bleach will stain it. This helps to discourage counterfeiters.
Those who wish to purchase lottery tickets must be at least 20 years old. In addition to the age requirement, they must be a citizen of Thailand or have a valid visa. Foreign bettors can also purchase tickets, but they must submit a copy of their passport to the GLO for verification purposes.
The thai lottery has several categories of prizes, including the Grand Prize of 30 million baht. The GLO has also established a number of smaller prizes for a variety of categories, such as sports and recreation. There are even a few special prizes for the elderly.
Thaksin expanded legal gambling while he was prime minister from 2001 to 2006. His administration introduced two- and three-digit lotteries, as well as sports betting. He even proposed holding a referendum on whether to allow Las Vegas-style casino gambling in the poorer provinces of Thailand. However, these proposals were never brought to fruition.
