In Thailand, lottery is a national pastime. It is the only form of gambling allowed in the country and locals take it seriously, with many seeking signs from the universe that their numbers are due for a big win. They’ll look at the number of stars in a particular constellation, read the figures in a tree’s bark, count the spots on a snake’s skin, or examine the plates on cars that have been involved in accidents for a hint at which numbers are about to be a winner.
There are two types of lottery tickets on offer in Thailand – Thai Government Lottery (TGL) and Thai Charity Lottery (TCL). Both lottery games use the same draw, but TCL prizes are smaller. If you want to win the top prize, you must match all six digits of your ticket in order.
To discourage counterfeiters, the TGL uses a unique paper that features a two-tone watermark of Wayupak, a mythical Thai bird. In addition, the paper is treated with chemicals so that a drop of bleach will stain it.
The TGL’s official website features a chart that lists the results of each drawing. These are updated as soon as a new drawing occurs, and an archive of previous results is also available for research purposes. The site offers multiple ways to check the results, including mobile apps and email notifications for each result. It is recommended that you double check the results from several sources, to ensure that they are correct.
If you win a prize of 20,000 baht or more, you must visit the Government Lottery Office to claim it. You’ll need to present a signed lucky lottery ticket along with your identification card or passport. Winnings of 40,000 or more will be paid in the form of a cheque.
It’s not uncommon for the winnings of the thai lotto to be split amongst multiple winners. Typically, the winnings are distributed equally, although this is not necessarily the case for all prizes. Regardless, the winnings must be claimed within two years from the date of the drawing.
Unlike in the West, where people might go to church and ask for luck, most Thais will head to the temple or a shrine. They’ll pray for the right numbers, or they might pay a fortune-teller to give them a few hints about which numbers are bound to come good. Some even go to the graves of deceased monks in search of numbers that will bring them good fortune – for example, the dates of their birth or death. It is often said that tragedy precedes good fortune in Thailand, which might explain why the number of a license plate or highway accident are common lottery numbers. However, not everyone believes in this superstition. Nonetheless, some of these numbers do turn out to be winners. It is important to note that a lottery is a game of chance, and the odds of winning the top prize are only one in a million.
