The thai lottery is one of the most popular forms of gambling in Thailand. While it is officially illegal and frowned upon by Buddhists, gamblers in Thailand are everywhere. Gambling is considered a social activity with winners being obligated to share their winnings. Bus tickets have lottery numbers, and betting on European soccer matches is common with at least $2 billion changing hands every week.
Currently, there are two official government lotteries in Thailand. The thai lottery is regulated by the Government Lottery Office (GLO). Its draws are held on the first and 16th day of every month. Only GLO-approved lottery agents can sell the tickets. However, other private operators have sprung up to take advantage of the nation’s growing demand for the game. These so-called “huay tai in” operate parallel lotteries that offer higher prizes and better odds.
It is the government’s job to make sure that winnings are distributed evenly among all players and not monopolized by a small number of large gamblers. To achieve this goal, the GLO distributes 28% of lottery profits for state uses. It also regulates the number of winning digits and the prize amounts that can be won.
Unlike other lottery games, where the player picks their own numbers, Thai lottery tickets are pre-printed with a set of six digits. This makes the results of each draw based on luck rather than skill. In order to deter counterfeiters, the tickets are printed on yellow, thin, smooth paper with a watermark of a mythical bird called a Wayupak. Additionally, the paper contains chemicals that will show stains under drops of bleach.
For many Thais, the superstition surrounding certain numbers is so strong that it reaches into their daily lives. For example, many people will search for the license plate numbers of cars that have crashed on the highway in hopes of finding a lucky number. They will also peruse the numbers on gravestones to see if any of them are lucky.
The official price of a lottery ticket is 80 baht. But many street vendors will charge more than this, especially for tickets with “lucky” numbers or that have a religious association. It is often said in Thai culture that tragedy precedes good fortune, so maybe this explains why the numbers of crash victims, murderers, and the victims of natural disasters are so popular.
