The thai lotto is one of the most popular gambling games in thailand. It is a state-run game, administered by the Government Lottery Office (GLO). The GLO prints the tickets itself and then sells them to wholesalers and the local market. It is the source of state revenue. It is also the most popular form of gambling amongst thais. It is also safe for players, as the government properly monitors it and does not allow any scams or frauds.
Almost 19 million Thais play the thai lotto every month and spend 67 billion baht. The lottery is legalized in Thailand and is the only form of gambling permitted under the country’s laws. The money generated through ticket sales is divided between a prize fund, street vendors, and a social activity fund. The remainder is funneled into the national treasury. The GLO also provides a framework for the game to operate within and has a well-established structure to determine how winnings are paid out.
Each ticket features a six-digit number. To prevent counterfeiting, the lottery paper is coated with chemicals. It is also dotted with invisible silk thread that can only be seen under ultraviolet light and has a two-tone watermark of a mythical bird known as a Wayupak. Drops of bleach on the paper will also reveal stains, so anyone who wants to buy a ticket should check the papers for these stains.
If you win, you must show a valid ID and bank account details to claim your prize. Sums of 20,000 baht or less can be cashed out at authorized retail venues. Larger sums will require you to visit the GLO headquarters in Nonthaburi. For this purpose, you must bring your winning lottery ticket and a valid identification document. The GLO will also issue you with a tax identification number.
In the early 1900s, King Vajiravudh allowed citizens to purchase tickets into a British-style lottery. Prizes included a loan agreement from the Warfare Loan Board and guns purchased for Sua Pa volunteers. In 1917, the king expanded legalized gambling when he allowed citizens to purchase tickets into the Sua Pa Million-Baht lottery. During the reign of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, the lottery was further expanded by introducing a two-digit and three-digit prize. He also expressed interest in legalizing soccer betting, allowing the government to get its hands on some of the huge amounts of money that this would generate.
When the military government took power after the 2006 coup, a crackdown on gambling was one of its main priorities. Despite these efforts, it remains difficult for many street vendors to make ends meet. Some have even started selling counterfeit tickets in order to make money. Nevertheless, the lottery is still the favorite pastime of most thais, especially women. Some go to temples and shrines in the hopes of receiving a hint of their lucky numbers, while others will visit a fortune teller for tips on which numbers will come up in the next draw.
