The lottery is one of only two forms of legal gambling in Thailand. It is played by more than 19 million people, or 28.6% of the country’s population. In a country where the government discourages other forms of betting, lotteries are a vital source of revenue for the state and a way for residents to improve their lives with the promise of life-altering wealth.
The official Thai lottery is a closed system that requires participants to purchase tickets from licensed vendors. The ticket includes a six-digit number, a schedule of prizes and ancillary information. Guests are also asked to identify themselves with a photo ID, which is printed on the back of the ticket. The ticket is then scanned and assigned to a number. The ticket pair is then placed into a drawing machine and initialized by a designated “Draw Chairman.” Each draw involves three balls for the main prize, plus four additional balls for each of the other prizes. The numbers are selected randomly through a computer-generated process. The Draw Chairman then randomly selects a colored ball to initiate the order of lesser prize draws.
Despite the low odds of winning the main prize, the lottery remains popular among many Thais. It is not only a way to supplement income, but it is also considered a form of good luck. Many people believe that the numbers are chosen by fate, and they seek out any number of strategies to increase their chances of winning the grand prize. Some visit temples to make merit and glean lucky numbers from monks, while others consult online gurus like Thai Lottery King and My4website. Often, numbers are chosen based on the events that occur in people’s daily lives, such as car accidents or celebrity deaths.
A giddy smile plays at the corner of Bom’s mouth as he explains his personal number selection strategy. With a conspiratorial wink, he pulls out his phone and shows the picture of a wheel with a set of numbers on it. He then begins scribbling a row of numbers on a piece of paper while consulting the chart, quickly crossing them out in a particular pattern.
While he won’t be the next winner of the 3 million baht top prize, his numbers are still in the running for one of the lesser prizes. If his numbers are drawn, he’ll receive a minimum of 100,000 baht per prize. But even if his numbers aren’t chosen, the lottery has served its purpose: it unites people in a shared dream and fuels optimism and hope, even if the dreams of sudden wealth don’t pan out. And for a country where the economy is stagnant and millions live in poverty, those are precious commodities.
