The Thai Lottery is one of just two forms of legal gambling in the Land of Smiles. It is held twice a month on the first and 16th of each month and is played by over 19 million people, or 28.6% of the native population. This makes the lottery one of the most popular pastimes in Thailand. The prize money ranges from the first prize of six million baht to the consolation prize of 2,000 baht. The lottery is a huge source of revenue for the country and helps to support the economy, especially in rural areas. However, the government has made a number of changes to the way it operates, including reducing the first prize amount and increasing taxes on winnings.
Until recently, there was no legal way to play the Thai lottery online. In order to purchase tickets, you had to visit a retail venue or get them from street vendors. But recently, the Government Lottery Office (GLO) started selling digital tickets through its Paotang mobile app at the official price of 80 baht per ticket. This helped to keep ticket prices down and make the lottery more accessible to the general public.
To purchase a ticket, you must log into the Paotang app using your GLO ID. Then select the lottery number you would like to buy and confirm your selection by pressing the “Buy Tickets” button. You can also choose to select Quick Pick (QP) for the lottery computer to randomly select your numbers. Then, choose a bet type and select your desired numbers from 0 to 9.
Before you buy a ticket, check the watermark. If the watermark has been altered or is not as sharp, you should look for a different vendor. You should also watch out for fake lottery tickets. While most maximum-stake Thai can tell a fake from a real ticket, newcomers may be misled by false tickets that look similar to the genuine ones. These fakes often have a darker watermark or a bluish tint.
When you win a prize, you must bring your winning ticket and valid identification document to the nearest GLO store to claim it. Prizes that are 20,000 baht or less can be claimed immediately, while larger sums must be claimed in person at the GLO head office in Nonthaburi. Larger prizes are not paid out in cash; rather, a cheque is issued in the winner’s name.
When it comes to choosing a lucky number, many Thais are drawn to the supernatural. They might seek advice from ghosts or travel to a temple to see if they can find the right numbers. Others prefer a more scientific approach to selecting their numbers. They might count their age, birth dates or marriages to pick a lucky number. But whatever method you use to choose your numbers, don’t go for the same one every time, as it limits your chances of winning. Also, avoid numbers that are associated with a negative image, such as the number 13.
