The Thai lottery is not merely a game of chance: it’s a social, spiritual and economic ritual that’s deeply embedded in the culture. Almost 19 million of Thailand’s inhabitants play the lottery, with draws taking place every month on the first and sixteenth. It’s one of only two forms of legal gambling in the country, and it’s a major source of income for organizers, as well as an important tax revenue generator for the government. It’s also a source of community entertainment, and the possibility of winning can influence consumer behavior, as players envision how they might spend their windfall.
Despite the fact that it’s nearly impossible to win the grand prize, the lottery remains popular in Thailand. Whether they’re buying their tickets at street kiosks or online, Thais seek any way to improve their odds of winning. This can mean visiting temples to make merit, as well as gleaning lottery numbers from monks, which aligns with Buddhist belief systems that encourage good deeds and a sense of personal agency. But more often than not, luck-seeking lottery participants turn to the cosmos for clues. Frequently, they’ll choose their numbers based on dreams or messages from the universe disguised in seemingly mundane events, such as car accidents or celebrity deaths. In this way, the lottery is more than just a game: it’s a means of self-actualization that fosters hope and optimism.
For Bom, the process is not only about selecting his lucky numbers, but also enjoying the game with his friends. He buys ticket pairs, which are sold at 80 baht per pair and can be shared with others. Each ticket allows the holder to potentially claim the three million baht grand prize, and his group chats about their different strategies.
But while he and his friends enjoy playing the lottery together, Bom doesn’t believe that it will help them get rich. “I don’t know about that,” he says with a giddy smile, “but I do enjoy choosing numbers.”
But the truth is that most people don’t actually become wealthy from the lottery, and the majority of players are poor or lower middle class. Nidhi’s study of a survey on the lottery found that about two-thirds of those who regularly play are in the low-income bracket. So, if you’re not rich, don’t worry about buying a ticket. There’s no shortage of other ways to make money in the country, and many of them are much more fun than playing the lottery.
