The twice-monthly thai lottery is one of the most popular forms of gambling in Thailand. The prize money is relatively modest compared to the massive jackpots of some other international lotteries, but the odds are excellent and the winning experience is well worth the trip to a local ticket agent.
The lottery is a state-run enterprise run by the Government Lottery Office (GLO) and is one of only two forms of legalized gambling permitted in Thailand. It is held every first and sixteenth of the month, with the top prize being 6 million baht. Tickets can be purchased in most major cities and towns across the country.
GLO sells the tickets to national wholesalers, commonly referred to as brokers, who then distribute them to 14,760 retail venues throughout the nation. The tickets are sold at a maximum price of 80 baht, and the revenue from the sale is divided into a number of different sectors. Prize money accounts for 60%, while 20% is funnelled to the treasury and social activity funds, and the rest goes to street vendors, broker discounts, and foundations, associations, and organizations.
Although gambling is strictly forbidden by the Buddhist religion, the country is awash with casinos and betting shops. The lottery is also a prominent feature in the country’s culture, with even bus tickets having a number on them. Many people believe that certain numbers are more lucky than others, so they use a variety of strategies to pick their numbers. These include praying to banana trees, interpreting dreams, dipping bamboo sticks in holy water, and using children to pick random numbers. Some winners have shared their insights into how they became successful in picking the right numbers.
Each lottery ticket is printed on special yellow paper that features a watermark of a mythical bird called a Wayupak, and the back of the ticket has two different silk threads that can be seen under ultraviolet light. The paper is also coated with chemicals that can be tested with bleach to show if it has been tampered with.
Despite not being the most impressive lottery game in the world, thai lotto is still very popular with both Thais and tourists. It is safe to play, has reasonable odds of winning, and is easy to purchase and use. There are a number of unofficial agencies that sell tickets outside of the official channels, but these are usually scams. The best option is to buy a ticket directly from an authorized retail venue or GLO office. These agents can be found in most cities and provinces, and they offer a range of benefits including better prices and credit purchases. The only downside is that these agents will typically charge a small fee for their services.
