The lottery in thailand is one of the most popular forms of gambling. It is a game of chance where winning requires a lot of luck and determination. It has proven to be a life-changing event for many winners who have won the big jackpots. In the beginning, only state-run lotteries were legal in Thailand but former Prime Minister Thaksin expanded the industry when he was in office. He even proposed allowing Las Vegas-style casinos in some of the poorer provinces. But his plans were quashed by the military regime that ousted him in 2006.
The government run lottery is known as the GLO (Government Lottery Office). Tickets are sold at retail venues and also online, but only by locals who are registered with the GLO. The registration process is simple and free. There are a few requirements to be met before being approved to sell lottery tickets in Thailand, including an identification card and a passport photo.
Each ticket has a six-digit number and is printed on a yellow, thin paper. It contains a two-tone watermark of Wayupak, a mythical bird of Thailand. The paper also has chemicals that react to bleach or ultraviolet light. These will cause the paper to stain if you drop a bleach solution on it or shine a UV light at it. The GLO also checks each ticket with a special machine that can read the barcode on the back of the ticket.
Many Thais like to bet on European soccer games, especially English Premier League matches. As much as $2 billion in bets change hands during these events, but the GLO has a tough time controlling it. The organization has tried to limit soccer betting by suggesting that TV broadcast of the games be delayed by 30 minutes, but this was met with outrage from fans and bookmakers alike.
Previously, the GLO had a system where it would sell tickets to retail venues and allow them to put on a markup on top. This resulted in the price of tickets going up, but it was a good way to earn a little extra income for some people. But, after a military government took over, the GLO introduced a maximum price on tickets to try and control the ticket prices. This is a more equitable way of selling tickets and should help to lower the price and make it more accessible for everyone in Thailand. However, despite the efforts of the GLO, many people still buy their lottery tickets from brokers and retail venues for a slight premium on the ticket. This is due to the fact that the retail venues offer convenience and a quick service. They are also less expensive than the official GLO tickets and can be bought with credit. But, if you can get your hands on the official GLO tickets, you should go with them. They will offer you better chances of winning and a secure purchase. Also, they will give you the option of purchasing multiple tickets.
