The thai lotto is the official national lottery of Thailand. It is one of only two forms of legal gambling permitted in the country and is held twice each month on the 1st and 16th. Its popularity means that it is played by almost 19 million Thais; that’s 28% of the country’s population. The lottery is run by the government’s Lottery Office (GLO) and has been a life changer for many who have won it.
The GLO’s distribution process is a multi-tiered network that includes local wholesalers, known as brokers, and 14,760 registered retail vendors. The tickets are then sold to the general public. The lottery is popular among the younger generation, with about half of its sales coming from young people between the ages of 20 and 35.
In order to win a prize, players must match all six numbers on their ticket. Each ticket also contains a color that corresponds to a prize level. The colors are yellow for second prize, pink for third prize, green for fourth prize and blue for fifth prize. The first prize is awarded to the first ticket with all six numbers matching. There are 165 prizes in total.
As of 2014, the military government has made lottery reform a priority and has cracked down on illegally priced tickets. Before the reforms, some ticket sellers would sell their tickets for more than the maximum price allowed by law. This was done by selling tickets that were considered to feature lucky numbers. Despite this crackdown, lottery superstition still exists in Thailand.
Winners of the thai lotto must pay a withholding tax of 0.5% on all winnings and 1% on charitable lottery prizes. This must be paid to the GLO Department of Prize Payments. The GLO has a phone line to assist winners with prize payments.
Aside from the prize money, a winning lottery ticket is also an excellent way to experience Thai culture and food. The thai lotto is widely available throughout the country and there are plenty of vendors selling them on the street and at market places.
It’s important to buy your tickets at a legitimate vendor to avoid paying for fake ones. This is especially true if you want to ensure your chances of winning. It is also a good idea to check the GLO website for additional information about claiming your prize. You will need to present the ticket/s along with a copy of your Thai ID or passport (for foreigners). GLO will then verify the information and pay your prize money.
