Thailand's Government Lottery Office increased the quota of digital lottery tickets for the 16 September 2022 draw to 11,453,000 tickets, the office announced on 26 August 2022. Sales began on 2 September 2022, running daily from 06.00 to 23.00 until the tickets run out, at 80 baht per ticket1.
The office said the increase was needed because digital tickets had been selling out faster than intended. All 11,453,000 tickets for the draw are held by 22,906 agents1.
Lottery board chairman Lawaron Saengsanit said digital sales had run for six draws by the time of the announcement. Cumulative buyers across those six draws numbered about 2,800,000, of whom 500,000 (17%) buy regularly and 2,300,000 (83%) do not. About 50% buy 2 to 5 tickets per draw, 19% buy one ticket and 17% buy 6 to 101.
"สำหรับเป้าหมายในปีนี้ คือ ตั้งเป้าจำหน่ายสลากราคา 80 บาท ประมาณ 20 ล้านใบ ดังนั้น การเพิ่มทางเลือกให้ร้านค้าสามารถลดราคาสลากดิจิทัลได้จะมีประโยชน์ หากปริมาณสลากมีมากกว่า 15 ล้านใบ ในส่วนของเลขที่ไม่ค่อยได้รับความนิยมและขายออกช้า ผู้ขายสามารถเลือกได้ว่า จะลดราคาลงเพื่อให้ขายง่ายขึ้น หรือจะเก็บสลากไว้ลุ้นรางวัล หากขายไม่ได้จนถึงวันสุดท้าย คนขายจะค่อยๆ ปรับตัวและเรียนรู้ ในส่วนของคนซื้อก็มีโอกาสได้ซื้อสลากราคาต่ำกว่า 80 บาท เราอยากเห็นประชาชนเป็นผู้ตั้งราคาสลาก อยากเห็นการปฏิเสธการซื้อสลากเกินราคา โดยจะเป็นอีกส่วนหนึ่งที่ช่วยผลักดันให้สลากในตลาดราคาถูกลงด้วย"
The office's target for the year is to sell about 20 million tickets at 80 baht. If supply exceeds 15 million tickets, sellers may cut the price of unpopular numbers that sell slowly, or hold them in the hope of a prize; buyers may then pay less than 80 baht1.
Separately, the office said a public consultation and social impact study on the government lottery, the L6 lottery and the N3 lottery was being compiled by Khon Kaen University, with a summary expected to reach the office by the end of August 2022. The office will then combine the opinions and study findings with related measures and submit them to the lottery board and the Finance Ministry, for possible submission to the cabinet1.
What it means for players
The 16 September draw is the seventh since digital sales began. Buyers who want specific numbers have been able to get them at that price, according to the office's account of buyer feedback1. The office has also said sellers may discount slow-moving numbers once supply passes 15 million tickets, which would let buyers pay below 80 baht1. The rules for the Thai Government Lottery, L6 paper lottery and L6 Digital Lottery set out how each game works, and how to buy Thai lottery tickets online covers the online route. Ticket prices across the region are compared in how much lottery tickets cost in Asia, and the official online sellers are listed in buying official lottery tickets online in Asia.
What happens next
The 1 September 2022 draw was to be held as an on-site draw at the Ratchaphruek room at Cholaphruek Resort in Nakhon Nayok province, with the provincial governor as draw committee chairman. It was to be broadcast on Amarin TV, Thairath TV, LINE TODAY and the Government Lottery Office website1. The office said the traveling draws are meant to let people outside Bangkok see the draw process and equipment for themselves, so they do not fall for number tips from fraudsters who claim online or by letter to know the winning numbers1. The Khon Kaen University study summary was expected by the end of August 2022, after which the office will submit the findings and related measures to the lottery board and the Finance Ministry1.
