Digital lottery sales start at 80 baht via Paotang and Thung Ngern apps

Thailand's government opened digital sales of Government Lottery Office tickets on 2 June 2022, offering more than 5 million tickets at 80 baht each through the Paotang and Thung Ngern applications from 06:00¹. The launch was announced on 1 June by government spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana and by Anucha Nakasai, a minister attached to the Prime Minister's Office who chairs the committee handling overpriced lottery sales¹.

The Government Lottery Office said at least 5,279,500 tickets would be available on its platform, sold by 10,258 contracted digital agents¹. A separate announcement on 30 May put the number of contracted agents at 10,513 and the initial supply at no fewer than 5,000,000 tickets³.

Tickets can be found either by searching for a chosen number or by searching among selling agents³. Once payment is made, ownership passes to the buyer and the ticket cannot be resold². Unwon tickets can be collected from the Government Lottery Office before the next draw date³.

The digital platform is one part of the "Lottery 80" project, alongside physical sales points. As of 1 June, 362 points were open in Bangkok, the central, eastern and northeastern regions, with the northern and southern regions signed in the previous week¹. Anucha said the office aims for 1,000 points nationwide².

The project responds to long-standing sales above the 80 baht face price. A government summary in April 2022 said tickets were rarely found at 80 baht, with the lowest price around 90 baht and attractive or full sets at 110 baht per ticket or more⁴.

What it means for players

Digital tickets are sold at the 80 baht face price, the same price the state sets for paper tickets, so buyers on the apps avoid the markup common at street vendors¹. A digital ticket is registered in the buyer's name, which the office says reduces the risk of a claim being disputed and removes worry about a lost ticket¹. The ticket cannot be resold once bought². Sales run from 06:00 to 23:00 daily until 14:00 on draw day, according to the office's earlier announcement⁵. Buying requires the Paotang or Thung Ngern app, registration and identity verification, and buyers must be at least 20³. The apps are operated by Krungthai Bank⁵. The office has said it is developing app features for people with disabilities and vulnerable groups⁴.

What happens next

The office expected Lottery 80 sales points to cover every province from the 1 July 2022 draw, and planned to call reserved applicants to reach its target of 1,000 points nationwide². Anucha said the office would also review ticket withdrawals at post offices nationwide and consider legal amendments, heavier penalties and civil and criminal measures².