The Thai lottery, or slaak kin baeng, is one of two forms of legal gambling allowed in the country and draws on the first and 16th of every month. It is a popular form of entertainment and a major source of income for millions of people. In addition to its role as a money-maker, the lottery has become a cultural unifier in Thailand and is infused with many aspects of religion, faith, superstition, and imagination. While the odds of winning are slim, for most people, purchasing a ticket is more than just a doomed investment; it’s an act of faith in a process that isn’t only a game but a way of life.
The giddy smile on Bom’s lips as he displays his numbers suggests that he is more than just a typical lottery player. His elaborate strategy hints at deeper connections between the lottery and a wide range of beliefs. He begins by consulting a chart that shows the rotation of the digits on the wheel, then pencils down a row of numbers while continuing to consult the chart. After that, he starts crossing out the numbers in a specific pattern until he is left with two digits. His number selection is more than just a process; it’s an exercise in numerology, and he takes great pleasure in discussing the strategy with his friends on a Line group chat.
For many lottery players, the numbers they select reflect their own hopes and dreams, or their aspirations for a better future. In fact, a study published in 2006 found that more than two-thirds of lottery players were poor or lower middle class. While some rich people play the lottery, the majority of people rely on it to make ends meet and to bolster their monthly salaries, which are on average about a quarter less than the national average.
But despite the many facets of Thai lottery culture, the fundamentals remain simple. Players purchase tickets, pin their hopes on a sequence of numbers, and wait to see if those numbers are drawn in the live television draw that happens twice per month. The operation of the lottery can get complicated, but at its core it is a revenue generator for organizers and a chance for people to dream of the future with potential windfalls.
For some, that fantasy extends beyond the official government lottery to a shadowy underground system that operates outside of the reach of law enforcement. According to Dr. Sungsidh Piriyarangsan, Dean of the College of Social Innovation at Rangsit University, this underground lottery is four to five times larger than the official government lottery. Its popularity is due to the fact that anyone can buy individual numbers, whereas the official lottery requires having at least 80 baht for a ticket pair. The prizes in the underground lottery are smaller, but a win is still a possibility.
