The lottery, known as huay in Thai, is an interesting and extremely popular activity among Thais. Twice a month, it brings a sense of hope to many people and happiness to a few. Its popularity is probably due to the fact that it offers one of the few affordable ways for ordinary people to escape the daily grind.
Thai people use many different ways to choose their lottery numbers. The most popular methods tend to involve superstitious beliefs or supernatural phenomenon. Some people are steered by a dream, other use fortune tellers or turn to other apparently “sacred” sources.
We took a look at the country’s appetite for lotteries in greater detail by speaking to some people hungry to “get rich tomorrow”.
A date with fate
One of the most popular places people visit in Bangkok for lucky numbers is the Phra Khanong shrine at the temple of Wat Maha But. A day before the draw, members of the public flock to the shrine to rub a sacred hopea tree with a candle and oil. Having undergone this ritual for many years, the tree now seems rather creepy.
Kanchaporn Lim, 24, regularly pays a visit to Phra Khanong shrine.
“I often come here when I’m stressed out. I come at least once a month”, she said.
Having visited the shrine on numerous occasions to seek a blessing, Kanchaporn is also on the look out for some lucky numbers. She says sometimes she interprets numbers differently from her friends since it depends on the individual when carrying out the ritual. Each person has their own way of rubbing the tree, she said.
“Some people just literally ‘rub the tree for numbers’. Others pay their respects to Ya Nak using Holy oil before rubbing the tree,” she said.
Kanchaporn said it is best to rub in a circular motion, cover this area in gold leaf, and then rub the area again until you can start to make out some numbers.
She said some people visit the temple when they are feeling despondent. The numbers and a lottery ticket offer them a ray of hope, she said.
Wat Maha But
Located in Phra Khanong district, Wat Maha But was built in 1762 during the late Ayutthaya period.
There is a famous story linked to the temple surrounding Mae Nak Phra Khanong (also
Ya Nak), a woman who died nearby while during childbirth.
It is thought that the spirit of Mae Nak Phra Khanong continued to live with her husband, who didn’t initially realize she was a ghost. When he cottoned on, he fled to the temple seeking the protection of the monks. Fortunately, a young novice monk, who went on to become one of the country’s best known monks, was able to successfully control the ghost.
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Years of experience
Having sold lottery tickets for many years, Somsak Phatipibulphon, has noticed that most buyers were aged over 30. Younger people tend to go in for fortune telling, he said.
Somsak said that while some people opted to use lucky numbers, others preferred to go for popular numbers. He said he had heard lots of stories about supernatural phenomena, as well as dreams being used as a source of inspiration.
“It seems as though some people really have a talent for interpreting numbers from their dreams,” he said.
Somsak’s years of experience mean that he can now plan how he will promote the lottery ahead of each draw. He said he has to choose numbers wisely, and try to ensure they offer great potential since winners were more likely to become regular customers, he said. |
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 On several occasions, Somsak has not been able to sell all his tickets before the draws were made, meaning the remaining tickets technically belong to him.
“I’ve won fourth and fifth prizes from among these spares, earning me about 100,000 baht [US$3,175],” he said.
Draws for the lottery are made on the 1st and 15th of the month.
Somsak showed us a piece of paper containing 10 numbers deemed fortuitous for the latest draw. He said he can sell tickets containing these digits for higher prices.
Moreover, should a draw coincide with a special occasion, he would look out for tickets containing “related” numbers. For example, Father’s Day in Thailand falls on the birthday of King Bhumibol Adulyadej (December 5). In this case, he would look out for tickets containing the number five, Somsak said.
Somsak said he wasn’t particularly worried whether or not customers were smiling when they purchased their tickets, but he conceded that in many ways he is “selling a dream” to the public.
As we prepared to depart, Somsak encouraged us to “get rich tomorrow”.
Intricate details
After graduating from Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Political Science three years ago, Charn Kanasarnsombutr managed to secure a job as a graphic designer at the Government Lottery Office (GLO). He gave us some insight into what goes into designing a lottery ticket.
Charn said that during his first two years at the GLO, he got the chance to carry out some general design duties, such as producing a design for the Red Cross lottery. Once he had built up his experience, though, Charn was able to join the main team responsible for designing lottery tickets, he said.
While designing a ticket needs a good deal of experience, he said, one of the most important factors is that the tickets must be impossible to duplicate. This meant using detailed, intricate designs, requiring a good deal of skill by the designer.
“Lottery tickets are like money in a way, but they have an expiry date. Many people have tried to ‘create’ their own winning ticket,” Charn said.
One of Charn’s intricate floral designs was featured heavily on tickets produced last year. He said ticket designs were usually prepared at least a year in advance.
Charn said GLO employees are allowed to buy tickets, but Charn chooses not to buy tickets. However, he said it does make him happy to see other people win.
As well as designing tickets for the lottery, Charn also shares his knowledge through teaching at Sripatum University. Working for the GLO had been an eye opener, he said, and he still found enough time for his hobbies. “It’s good to know that sometimes my designs put a smile on people’s faces,” Charn said.
 And the winner is …
A printing house called Chak Phet Karn Pim is responsible for producing Raing Ber (literally ‘arranging number’), a publication that informs the public of the results of the latest draw.
Kanjana Mokkaves owns Chak Phet Karn, a company which has been printing lottery results now for 24 years. She got the idea when she learned that one of her staff was taking leave on the 1st and 15th of the month to provide a similar service for another company.
Kanjana said that when the company launched its product, she had to distribute it for free since a similar purple-colored publication was already popular and basically provided similar information.
“We started out just printing about four to five thousand copies of Riang Ber, earning just 50 satang from the two-baht cover price,” she said.
Kanjana said that at one time, up to 20 workers would gather around a radio. They would begin typesetting as soon as the winning numbers were revealed. Nobody would talk to reduce the risk of error.
The GLO has a special phone number which printers can ring in order to check they heard the right number being read out, Kanjana said. Typically, a copy of Riang Ber would be “hot off the press” no more than 15 minutes after the results were read out.
Chak Phet Karn has gone from strength to strength and now prints more than 100,000 copies of Riang Ber every two weeks. Although its “shelf life” is extremely limited, there is strong demand for it during the hours following the announcement of the results.
Popular methods used to select numbers
§ Dreams – Many people base their choice of numbers upon dreams they’ve had. There are several publications that promise to “teach” readers how to interpret their dreams and turn the results into lucky numbers.
§ License plates – It is popular for owners of new cars to select numbers from their license plates, while “dreamers” may use numbers from a vehicle they have encountered in their dreams.
§ Ages - The age of a friend or family member who has recently passed away is a popular choice. Others choose to add a one to this number.
§ Home - House numbers are another popular choice.
§ Date of birth – This offers several sub-groups of numbers.
Perhaps someone born on the 14th of February might pick 14 and 2 (to represent February), for example.
§ Strange beasts - Reports in tabloids of weird and wacky animals represent another possible source of lottery numbers.
§ ‘Waxing numerical’ – Some people look for inspiration in the
wax patterns created after candles are floated in a bowl of Holy water by monks in Buddhist temples.
§ Spiritual enlightenment – Some people look towards the supernatural by employing a medium. Finding a reliable one, however, is quite a challenge.
§ Kids’ stuff – If you’re short of ideas, don’t forget that children can often act as a good source of lucky numbers.
- Translated into English and republished with the kind permission of Mars magazine.
Photos: Suwit Kittithien and Duangsuda Kittiwattananon
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Life in Thailand 
Life in Thailand
Thai ways of living - be it countryside or city - have their own distinct styles, rhythms and habits. The kingdom, and especially Bangkok, is also home to an interesting variety of locals and expatriates. Learn about the views and lives of local and expatriate communities, in addition to helpful tips for those exploring and living a Life in Thailand.
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