The Thai lottery is one of the most popular forms of gambling in the country. It is a national game run by the Government Lottery Office (GLO) and is held twice a month on the first and 16th of each month. It is one of the two legal forms of gambling in the country, along with horse racing. The GLO also holds the annual world cup of lottery, which is a hugely popular event.
While the odds of winning the top prize in thai lotto are low – a single ticket only has a one in a million chance – the game is still taken very seriously by many Thais. For instance, it is not uncommon for people to visit temples and shrines in an attempt to seek divine guidance on their lucky numbers. Additionally, many people will consult fortune tellers and even go to the local monks to see what their digits may be. Similarly, some people will go to the number one store and buy a lotto ticket based on the occurrence of certain omens or signs in their environment, such as the number of spots on a dog’s bark or the number of snakes (a giant snake is representative of the number five, while a small snake represents the number six).
Unlike most other lotteries in the world, where players can choose their own numbers, Thailand’s national lottery has pre-printed tickets that have been assigned a unique identification number. Each ticket also has a special watermark of Wayupak, the mythical Thai bird. In addition, the paper is printed with chemicals so that if it is exposed to bleach, the ticket will stain. As a result, counterfeit tickets are rare in the country. The tickets are sold by a variety of retailers, including some disabled people who make a living selling them at street markets and other public places.
The prizes that can be won in thai lotto are divided into several categories, starting with the lowest winning amount of 2,000 baht for matching just the first three digits. The next four categories all have higher winning amounts, and the first prize for hitting all six digits is three million baht. The remaining nine digits each carry their own smaller prize values, and the top prize is reserved for the winner of the second highest amount of winning numbers.
If you are a lottery winner, it is important to follow all the rules for claiming your prize. All awards must be claimed within two years from the date of the draw. You can claim a sum lower than 20,000 baht at any authorized retail venue, while larger awards must be claimed in person at the head GLO office in Nonthaburi.
The GLO website features additional information about claiming your prize, as well as the mandated procedures. The official website also lists contact information for the GLO Department of Prize Payments and additional details about the Thai lottery. The site is available in English and Thai.
