The lottery is a culturally unifying ritual in Thailand. Fate, faith, imagination and superstition all converge around it, which is why over one third of the country’s population regularly plays it. To understand why – and how – the lottery is so engrained in Thai life, it helps to uncover some of its religious, economic and social roots.
The official national lottery in Thailand, known as the slaakkinaebng or phlslaakkinaebng, is run by the Government Lottery Office (GLO). It draws a winning ticket every first and 16th of the month. Tickets are available at GLO outlets, mobile phone apps and at stores across the country. The price of a ticket is 80 baht.
It is not surprising that many people rely on luck when playing the lottery, but what may be surprising is the diversity of ways in which they try to improve their odds at winning. Often, people will consult gurus who have cryptic formulas and tips that they claim will help them win the lottery. They will also seek out lucky numbers from a variety of sources, including dreams and animals. Interestingly, some people will even look for “silver linings” in negative events, such as car accidents or celebrity deaths, and use those as their lottery numbers.
Those who want to be successful in the lottery will often visit temples or other places of worship to make merit and to get advice on their selections. The practice aligns with Buddhist belief systems, which promote good deeds and the notion that positive actions will be rewarded. The popularity of this practice means that millions of people visit temples each month to make merit and glean lottery numbers from monks.
A surprisingly large number of people also sell lottery tickets to make a living. In fact, a significant percentage of people who play the lottery are poor and lower middle class. A study published in the International Gambling Studies journal in 2006 found that two-thirds of those who played the lottery were from low-income households, meaning their monthly income was around a quarter less than the national average.
Lottery sellers can be found almost anywhere in Thailand, from street vendors to grocery stores. They usually have a small stand or a table near the entrance to their shop. Some have large signs that display the numbers they are selling. Others have a line of customers waiting for their services.
The government has taken steps to regulate the sale of lottery tickets, including requiring that all sales be registered and that winners receive their winnings in person. It has also set up a hotline to report illegal vendors. However, the popularity of the lottery continues to grow, largely because it is cheaper and more accessible than other forms of gambling in the country. It is estimated that the underground lottery is four to five times larger than the official lottery. It is also possible to purchase individual numbers in the underground lottery for a few baht, whereas it would cost at least 80 baht to play the official lottery.
