The lottery is one of the only two forms of legal gambling in Thailand. It is drawn twice a month, on the 1st and 16th, and is played by over 19 million Thais, or 28.6% of the nation’s population. While the odds of winning are low, many people still feel a need to flutter. The internet now offers punters a variety of sites where they can buy tickets and check results.
The process of a lotto draw is straightforward: participants purchase tickets, pinning their hopes on a life-changing win. They are given a chance to win by matching all six numbers. The more digits match, the higher the prize. A computer holds the numbers in a memory base, so it knows what number is being picked and when. It can even be programmed with algorithms to avoid picking certain numbers.
As in other countries, a single ticket costs 80 baht. But it’s sold in pairs, so sellers have a way to make money: They increase the price and keep the difference. They also can set aside the tickets they think are lucky.
Lottery prizes are usually in the form of cash or goods. Winners can claim their prizes from the store where they bought the tickets or from the provincial Comptroller General’s Department (CGD). In Phuket, winners can file claims at the Provincial CGD Office on the first floor of Phuket City Hall.
In addition to the main prize, a bonus prize is awarded for getting all six digits in the correct order. A second bonus prize is awarded for all eight digits in the correct order. In the past, there was a third prize for all eight digits and a fourth for all six digits. However, these were abolished by the military government after 1 August 2015. There are also various special prizes for different types of tickets. The total prize money for the Thai lottery is over B4 billion. It is the highest in Asia and the second largest in the world. The lottery is a popular form of gambling for both Thais and foreigners. It is the only game in the country that is open to all ages and social classes, allowing the poorest members of society to take part. The lottery is an important source of revenue for the state, generating a total of over B5 billion in 2016. This money can be spent on a wide range of government-approved projects.
