The lottery is a complex phenomenon, a form of gambling that entangles patrons in a web of aspirations, luck, and faith. Its ubiquity in Thai culture has profound implications beyond the simple thrill of a flutter: it creates economic infrastructures, fuels consumer demand, and fosters a shared sense of optimism and hope. The government lottery, or slaakkinabng (Thai:
Unlike Western countries, where the majority of lottery players are wealthy, in Thailand the vast majority of lottery purchasers fall into the low-income bracket. As a result, the lottery plays an important role as a social safety net, providing a source of income for disadvantaged individuals. Furthermore, the lottery is frequently used to make merit and gain blessings from spirits and monks, which aligns with Buddhist belief systems in which good deeds are rewarded with future good fortune.
In addition to the official governmental lottery, there is an underground lottery that runs parallel to the legal one. While the government lottery tickets are pre-printed, include anti-counterfeiting features, and can only be purchased in ticket pairs at 80 baht a pop, the underground lottery is much more open to individual buyers. Additionally, the potential pay-out for a winning combination of numbers on a ticket pair is four to five times larger than that of the official lottery.
The mystical beliefs that cloak lottery-playing methodologies in Thailand are numerous and highly nuanced, from the number selection process to the methods used to purchase tickets. Many lottery players believe that lucky numbers can be found in dreams and in other signs of divine intervention. For instance, some will visit temples to gain blessings by begging monks for lottery numbers. Others will consult online gurus, such as Lottery King and My4Website, for cryptic formulas and tips that they claim can improve their chances of winning.
The popularity of the lottery has also created a new kind of business in Thailand, one that is often run by the disabled. According to Don Willcox, co-founder of the foundation to encourage the potential of disabled persons in Chiang Mai, this sector of the market is booming because it can provide an alternative source of income to those who would otherwise be denied employment because of their disability. Moreover, the nature of the work can be less inflexible than other types of employment, meaning that it is more attractive to those with disabilities.
