The thai lotto is the most popular form of gambling in thailand. It is operated and managed by the government lottery office (GLO). Tickets are printed in the GLO and sold nationwide to wholesalers, who then sell them in the local market. The government uses 28% of the profits for state affairs and uses. In 2014, approximately 67 million people played the thai lotto.
The lottery is one of the few forms of legalized gambling in Thailand. However, the amount of money gambled illegally in Thailand is enormous. It is estimated that Thais spend $10 billion a year on illegal gambling, mostly in huay tai din, or underground lottery houses. The prime minister Thaksin, who was ousted in a 2006 coup, attempted to expand the legal gambling industry during his time in office. He introduced two- and three-digit lottery games, as well as sports betting. However, these efforts were largely unsuccessful.
In addition to the thai lotto, there are several other forms of gambling in thailand. These include football pools and cockfights, as well as numbers games and a variety of casino-style gambling. These are not as popular as the thai lotto, but they still generate a significant amount of revenue. By some estimates, sex and gambling account for 10 percent of Thailand’s GNP.
Thais love to bet on European soccer matches, and some estimate that $2 billion dollars in bets change hands each year. This phenomenon has even spawned its own television shows and newspapers. However, the country’s military rulers have steadfastly opposed attempts to regulate soccer gambling and curb the flow of cash to illegal bookies.
If you’re lucky enough to win a prize, the first thing you should do is fill out a claim form. You can do this online or at The Government Lottery Office. Then, you’ll have to present the winning ticket and a Thai ID card or passport for foreigners. Afterwards, you’ll have to pay 0.5% of your prize as tax.
Winning the thai lotto requires a good deal of luck. But there are some strategies that can help you increase your chances of winning. For example, some winners have claimed that interpreting their dreams and seeing animals in the build-up to the draw are signs that they will be lucky. Others have tried praying to banana trees, interpreting candle drippings in holy water, and fortune telling with bamboo sticks.
The thai lotto is not the most impressive lottery out there, but it’s certainly worth a try for anyone interested in gambling in thailand. The thai are passionate about their lottery and view it as more than just a game. It’s a ritual and a tradition that many want to be a part of. While a little more regulation and higher top prizes would be nice, the lottery is still worth trying.
