The thai lotto is not the most impressive lottery game in the world as far as jackpot prizes go but there is something intriguing about it. The Thais’ passion and mania for chasing lucky number tickets results in a ritual and tradition that many want to be a part of. While a little more regulation and higher top prizes would be nice, the game isn’t a scam and you can feel safe trying it.
Gambling is illegal in Thailand and frowned upon by Buddhism but it is still a common pastime for the majority of the population. The country is filled with gambling dens and the lottery is a major topic of conversation. It is estimated that the Thais spend $10 billion on gambling every year, much of it on soccer bets. Monks are often consulted by lottery players to provide lucky numbers and advice on other gambling options.
Two centuries ago Chinese immigrants introduced the idea of a state lottery to Thailand. During the reign of King Rama V it was approved and in 1874 the first official lottery ticket was printed. The state lottery is very popular and is a great source of revenue for the government. The huay tai in, or underground lottery houses, are also very popular and the government has tried to crack down on them.
Currently, the thai lotto is administered by the Government Lottery Office (GLO). It is one of the only forms of legalized gambling in the country. The lottery is drawn on the first and sixteenth of each month. The winning numbers are announced on TV and radio. There are several different prizes available depending on how many digits match. The first prize is 100,000 baht, the second prize is 40,000 baht, and the fifth prize is 10,000 baht. The GLO website explains how the winners are selected.
In order to claim your prize, you must have the official receipt for the winning ticket. You have to wait two years from the date of the drawing to receive your award. Prizes lower than 20,000 baht can be cashed out at any authorized retail venue. Larger sums must be claimed at the head GLO office in Nonthaburi. You will have to present your passport in order to collect the prize.
The GLO sells the tickets to national wholesalers, known as brokers, who then distribute them to the nation’s 14,760 retail venues. The brokers then add a markup to the price of the ticket, which has led to the high prices for tickets in some places. In order to make the process more accessible, the GLO has recently changed its distribution system so that retail venues can purchase the tickets directly from the GLO. This should help to reduce the cost of the ticket. It will be interesting to see how this affects the popularity of the lottery. The government hopes that it will encourage more people to play and increase their chances of winning.
