Thai Lottery is the official state lottery of Thailand and is organized by the Government Lottery Office (GLO). Approximately 67 million people of all ages play the Government Lottery every year, spending around 76 billion baht. The GLO prints the tickets and sells them to wholesalers, who then distribute them to retail venues and players. The Government uses 28% of the proceeds from the lottery for state affairs and other purposes.
Each ticket has a six-digit number. To discourage counterfeiting, the tickets are printed on special yellow, thin, and smooth paper that features a two-tone watermark of Wayupak, a mythical Thai bird. In addition, the paper is coated with chemicals. If a drop of bleach is added, the paper will show stains; without the chemical, it will have no stains. The tickets are also printed with a pattern that will only become visible under ultraviolet light.
While many people rely on their luck in order to win the thai lotto, others use specific strategies to increase their chances of winning. For example, some players study past winning numbers to look for patterns or trends. Others may visit a temple or shrine in the hopes of praying for lucky numbers. Many also go to a fortune teller to get advice on their chosen numbers.
Some of these strategies are controversial, but most people believe that they can boost their chances of winning the lottery. In fact, several lottery winners have shared their strategies with the public. They have said that they prayed to banana trees, interpreted their dreams, and saw animals in the buildup to a draw to help them select their winning numbers. They have also used other techniques, including rubbing bamboo sticks and interpreting candle drippings in holy water.
Moreover, some Thais also believe that tragedy leads to good fortune. For example, some people will pick a lottery number that is the date of a fatal accident, or the license plate number of a vehicle that has crashed into another. Others will seek out hints from deceased relatives or friends, and some even pay for lottery numbers to be drawn by their pets.
However, in 2014, a military government took control of the country and stepped up lottery reforms. For example, a maximum price was set for the purchase of tickets, which is now 80 baht. Previously, the prices could be much higher, and retailers and brokers put in a percentage to make a profit. This has lowered the cost and made the lottery more accessible to a broader range of Thais. Players can also claim their prize money within two years after the draw date and receive a cheque, but larger amounts must be claimed at the head GLO office in Nonthaburi. In this case, the player must provide their passport and sign a declaration form before receiving their reward. This process can take up to a month or more.
