In Thailand the lottery is a big business. It is estimated that over $10 billion in baht is spent annually on the underground lottery (huay tai in Thai) while only $3.6 billion is invested in government lotteries. That’s a huge difference.
The government has taken some great strides to ensure a fair lottery, but the illegal vendors are practically impossible to crack down on. They sell tickets with numbers that many ordinary Thais would never touch with a barge pole, and often at prices that are far beyond what is reasonable. This number superstition is one of the main reasons that a maximum price per ticket was instituted, but it has done little to deter the underground lottery from robbing players of their hard-earned money.
Every official lottery ticket is printed on a yellow, thin, and smooth paper that features a watermark of Wayupak, a mythical bird that is recognizable only under ultraviolet light. In addition, each of the six digits on the ticket is embossed in raised print. This is an attempt to discourage counterfeiting, as the fake tickets can be easily distinguished by the raised printing and the smudges on the paper that are caused when the embossed text gets wet.
Each drawing has a two-digit prize for a number that is drawn at random. For example, if you get the number 45, you can win ThB 2,000. There are also four three digit prizes, and if you have a lucky six-digit ticket, you can win up to ThB 3,000,000.
The draw is held twice a month. It is broadcast live on television and the internet, and is also available in various mobile phone applications. The official website of the lottery has an archive of all the past draws.
There are also private companies that provide online lottery services, but they must register with the GLO to be authorized. They can offer a variety of additional benefits to their customers, including bigger prizes, credit purchases, and an easier way to select numbers. They must also comply with GLO regulations regarding prize claims.
If you’re planning to win a big prize in the thai lotto, make sure you follow all the rules and guidelines for claiming your prize. You’ll need to submit your winning ticket/s, ID card, and passport (for foreigners) before you can claim your award. In addition, you’ll need to pay 0.5% stamp duty on government lottery wins and 1% stamp duty on charitable lottery wins.
Although the thai lotto is not as popular as it is in other countries, it’s still an exciting opportunity to try your luck. However, it’s important to keep in mind that you won’t be able to win the jackpot unless you are very lucky. So if you plan to play this game, you should prepare yourself for a long wait and a lot of luck. But don’t forget that you can always try again the next time around. Good luck!
