Lottery is a popular pastime for many Thais and a source of state revenue. It is regulated by the GLO and offers two types of tickets: the government lottery (TGL) and the charity lottery ticket (TCL). The first prize for TGL is three million baht and for TCL it is two million baht. The odds of winning the top prize are one in a million.
The TGL lottery is held twice a month, on the first and 16th of each month. The draws are held at the GLO headquarters and broadcast live on television. In addition to the top prize, there are also a number of smaller prizes that can be won. The winner must match all six digits in the correct order to win the first prize.
Despite the low odds of winning the top prize, the lottery is very popular in Thailand. Around 19 million Thais played the government lottery in 2013, and spent 67 billion baht on the tickets. Moreover, the lottery is widely popular abroad, where it is known as the thai 123. The reason for this is that the game is well organized by the thai government and that it has good rules.
Winners of the thai lottery have been known to try a variety of strategies to increase their chances of success. For example, they may try to interpret signs in their everyday surroundings such as the numbers in a dog’s bark, the number of spots on the fur of a cat, or snakes (a giant snake is representative of the number five, while a small snake represents the number six). Besides, some will visit a temple to pray for the right numbers. Others will ask a monk or fortune teller for advice.
After a winner has purchased a ticket, he or she will have to present it to the GLO office along with a valid identification document and bank account details. For foreigners, this will mean a passport. In most cases, the winning ticket will be redeemed within 15 days after the draw. However, if the prize is more than 20,000 baht, it can be claimed on the same day.
The total revenue from the thai lottery is divided into several sectors. Prize money accounts for 60%, and 20% of the revenue is funneled to the treasury. The remaining 20% is shared among street vendors (12%), ticket wholesalers (2%), social activity funds (3%), and foundation, association, and organization discounts (3%). The lottery also pays 0.5% stamp duty on all government lottery winnings and 1% on charitable lottery winnings. This tax is paid to the GLO. This money is then used to fund various public projects. If you are lucky enough to be a winner, you should make sure that you claim your prize on time and pay the appropriate taxes. Otherwise, you may lose your prize. In addition, you must keep a record of your winnings and submit it to the GLO when required.
