Lottery in thailand is one of the country’s most popular pastimes, and it’s not hard to understand why. Whether you’re looking for an inexpensive way to spend your free time or just want to try out your luck, lottery is a fun and easy hobby to get into. And although it’s not the most impressive lottery in terms of top prizes, there’s something to be said for the passion with which thailand citizens chase their lucky numbers.
The Government Lottery Office (GLO) administers the country’s official national lottery, which is drawn on the first and sixteenth of each month. The GLO prints and sells tickets to national wholesalers, also known as brokers, who then sell them to the nation’s 14,760 retail venues. The lottery is the only form of legalized gambling in the country, and 28% of proceeds are used for national purposes.
Each ticket features a six-digit number. To deter counterfeiting, the paper is coated with chemicals that can be detected by a drop of bleach or a touch of ultraviolet light. It also has a two-tone watermark of a mythical bird called a Wayupak, which can be seen with the naked eye or under UV light. Moreover, the winning numbers are printed on the bottom of the ticket along with a special barcode. The ticket can be validated using a QR code reader or a computer with a built-in scanner.
To claim a prize, the winner must present the ticket to a vendor and show a Thai ID card or passport (for foreigners). The vendor will then give the winning amount in cash. Prizes of 20,000 baht or less must be claimed within two years from the drawing date, and larger amounts must be claimed at the GLO office in Nonthaburi. Winnings are taxed at 0.5% for government lottery wins and 1% for charitable lottery winners.
In a land of superstition, many people use omens and other signs to help them decide which numbers to select. They look for figures in barks, the number of spots on a cat’s fur (representing the numbers three and five), snakes (symbolic for the number six), rats (linked to the number one) and other such hints. Others choose their numbers on a more rational basis, choosing them based on research or estimates.
Regardless of the method you choose to select your numbers, it’s important to remember that the odds are only one in a million. The chances of winning the grand prize are much lower, but even a small win is better than nothing at all.
