The thai lottery is the official state lottery, operated by the Government Lottery Office (GLO). Tickets are sold in authorized retail venues across the country. The top prize is 30 million baht. A second prize of 22 million baht is also available if you match all six numbers. The lottery is a popular pastime in Thailand, with more than two-thirds of the population buying a ticket at least once a year.
The lottery is regulated by the GLO, which operates it on behalf of the national Treasury. The GLO has a strict legislative framework that determines how lottery proceeds are used. The money raised through ticket sales is funnelled to a variety of national causes, including education and social activities.
In addition to announcing the winning numbers, the chairman of the drawing will randomly select a colored ball from the machine to determine the order for lesser prizes. The colors are yellow for the 2nd prize, pink for the 3rd prize, green for the 4th prize, and blue for the 5th prize. The GLO website offers detailed information on the numbering system and the method of prize distribution.
Despite the fact that the odds of winning are one in a million, many Thais have a deep-rooted faith in the numbers and look for signs of luck. The number of rings on a palm tree, the number of spots on a dog’s coat, snakes (a giant snake is associated with the number five and a small snake is linked to the number six), rats (linked to the number one), and other omens are viewed as good fortune. Many Thais will visit temples and shrines to pray for lucky numbers, while others will seek the advice of a fortune teller.
A large percentage of the public places bets on European soccer matches, particularly English Premier League games. These bets are made at a number of bookies around the country, with a total turnover estimated to be more than $2 billion a year. In an effort to reduce this activity, the government proposed requiring the bookmakers to close their shops at least 30 minutes before a game begins. This measure was roundly condemned by the public.
Each year the Lottery Office turns in more than 4,000 million baht to the state treasury, with another 20 million earmarked for charities. This includes 440 scholarships of 20,000 baht each, the welfare fund for civil servants and military personnel, and the welfare council for war veterans. In addition, the Lottery Office earmarks eight million baht per year for social activities and community development projects. About 28 percent of the ticket proceeds go to prize funds, and the rest is divided among street vendors (12%), ticket wholesalers (2%), and foundations, associations, and organizations (3%). The remainder of the revenue is channelled into administrative costs, including the cost of operations. Winners must present the ticket and a valid ID card or passport for foreigners to claim their prize.
