The twice-monthly Thai government lottery is the country’s most popular form of gambling, with a top prize that could turn anyone into a millionaire. It’s a serious business: The country’s National Lottery Administration (GLO) produces more than 252 million tickets every year, and its profits are more than double the amount of state coffers.
While GLO has made leaps in ensuring a fair lottery, the process of winning is still not without its obstacles. One hurdle is that the tickets can only be purchased at authorized locations, including street vendors, and not on the internet. Many foreign tourists who want to play the lottery encounter this issue and decide to skip it altogether.
To avoid counterfeiting, each ticket has a six-digit number and a watermark of Wayupak, a mythical Thailand bird. Additionally, the paper used to make the tickets is treated with chemicals so that a drop of bleach will stain the ticket and show that it’s not genuine. However, it is important to note that this trick does not always work because the chemical treatment can be removed by using bleach or sunlight.
Those who are lucky enough to win the lottery are required to fill out a claim form, submit a valid ID card and take a queue number to receive their prize. They then have two years from the date of the drawing to claim their winnings. Winnings of 20,000 baht or less can be cashed out at any GLO-authorized retail venue, while prizes of 200,000 baht or more must be claimed at the head office in Nonthaburi.
There is also a small risk of losing a prize for failing to follow the mandatory rules. Those who win large amounts may be asked to provide proof of identity, a copy of the winning ticket and a bank statement to prove their authenticity. It’s also recommended that winners contact their local GLO branch if they are unsure about any rules or procedures.
GLO is a state-owned entity, and there’s a strict legislative framework that governs how the lottery operates. The company sells its tickets to wholesalers, who then distribute them to more than 14,700 authorised retail venues across the nation. GLO’s revenue from ticket sales goes to the treasury, with a portion funnelled into social activity funds, and discounts for street vendors and foundations, associations and organizations.
Another popular form of betting is on European soccer matches, particularly those involving English Premier League teams. The total value of soccer bets in Thailand has been estimated to reach as high as $2 billion per week, and this is a serious source of income for Thailand’s bookmakers. But soccer betting has its drawbacks, as it has been linked to match-fixing and illegal gambling syndicates. The GLO and the government have taken steps to address this problem, but the phenomenon persists.
