Lottery in thailand is one of the most popular forms of gambling in the country, played by nearly 19 million Thais. The national lottery draws on the first and 16th of every month, with a prize pool that totals billions of baht. But there are some things to keep in mind before you start buying tickets. You should also know that winning is not easy. It requires a well-researched number, and a well-researched strategy. Lastly, it is important to stick with the game and never give up.
The state-owned company, GLO, operates the lottery, and it follows a strict legislative framework that determines how prizes are paid out and what percentage of revenue will go to national causes. The GLO website features additional information about prize claims and mandated procedures. Players who win sums less than 20,000 baht can cash their prize money at any authorized retail venue. If the winning sum is higher, players will need to visit the GLO department of prize payments in Nonthaburi.
To ensure the integrity of the lottery, the paper used to print thai lotto tickets is specially designed. It features a special two-tone watermark of a mythical bird called Wayupak and special chemicals that make it impossible to reproduce fakes. The ticket’s silk thread is also coated with chemicals that can only be detected with ultraviolet light. The lottery also employs a staff of security officers to inspect the machines before each drawing.
After the military government took power in 2014, lottery reform became a top priority. As a result, the maximum price for a ticket was established and brokers and retail venues were stopped from adding a percentage to the ticket’s sale prices. This helped make the lottery more affordable for Thais and allowed foreigners to avoid being charged a premium.
There are still some superstitious elements that remain, however. For example, many people try to find lucky numbers in omens they encounter in their everyday lives. The number of hairs on a cat’s tail, the number of rings on a bracelet, snakes (six is a lucky number in Thailand), rats (one is a lucky number), and even the shadows on a wall are sometimes interpreted as signs that a particular lottery ticket will be a winner.
A player must present their winning ticket and ID card to claim their prize. All winners must pay a 0.5% stamp duty on government lottery winnings and 1% for charitable lottery winnings. Winnings of less than 200,000 baht can be cashed at any authorized venue. Winnings of a larger amount must be claimed at the head office of the GLO. The process is fairly simple, but it can take up to two years for a large prize to be paid out. GLO will notify winners of their awards by phone or email. Larger prizes are not paid in cash, but in the form of a cheque.
