Lottery is a popular game played by 19.2 million people in Thailand who spend over 76 billion baht (2.3 billion USD) a year on tickets. The lottery is administered by the Government Lottery Office and is drawn on the first and 16th of each month. It is one of the two forms of legalised gambling permitted in the country.
In an attempt to keep ticket prices down, GLO launched a digital lottery service that allows players to buy tickets at the official price of 80 baht instead of the inflated street prices of 100-110 baht or more. This new sales channel is available through the Paotang app and was an instant hit, GLO Director Noon Sansanakhom said.
GLO has a well-established legal framework that dictates how the lottery operates, how prizes are paid out and what percentage of revenue goes towards national causes. It also has a strong social responsibility mandate and is fully transparent with all its operations. As such, there is no risk for buyers. GLO sells the tickets to wholesalers who then distribute them through a network of 14,700 authorized retail venues in Thailand.
The winners are then awarded a prize according to the numbers they match in the draw, and the winnings are paid out in the form of cash or cheque. The winner can claim their award up to two years after the drawing took place. Smaller awards can be cashed out at any of the GLO-authorized retail venues, while larger sums need to be claimed from the GLO headquarters in Nonthaburi.
Thais believe that animal behaviour can be a big clue as to upcoming lottery results. For instance, if you see a tortoise wandering off in an unexpected location, that’s seen as a good sign and a sign of luck for the forthcoming draws. And if you see a bird perched in an unusual place, that’s also believed to be a lucky omen.
Despite these superstitions, it’s clear that the majority of people who play the lottery are not actually trying to win the jackpot. Rather, they’re playing the lottery to experience the excitement and hope that it may boost their financial situation in some way. The thrill of the lottery experience unites people in a shared dream and fuels human spirit with the tantalizing possibility of wealth.
Even if you’re not a winner, the lottery experience can still be fun and educational. It can teach you about probability and give you an opportunity to practice your math skills, if that’s what you’re looking for. It can also help you develop a more rational attitude to the game, which in turn can make it more enjoyable for everyone involved. It’s important to remember that the odds of winning are extremely slim – so it’s not worth spending money on lottery tickets just for some wins.
