The lottery in Thailand is hugely popular despite the low odds of winning and the unfavourable payout ratio.

The payout ratio for the Thai lottery is 60%,[3] as compared to worldwide averages of 74% for bingo, 81% for horse racing, 89% for slot machines, and 98% for blackjack (basic rules).

Unlike in most countries, where the government licenses and monitors the lottery business, the Thai GLO itself prints and sells the tickets to wholesalers.

The strict laws that forbid other gambling activities results in the GLO pocketing 28% of lottery profits for state use.

Starting 16 June 2015, the military government has mandated that the price of a lottery ticket will not exceed 80 baht.

[9] Starting 1 August 2015, what is commonly called the "jackpot" or bonus first prize of 22 or 30 million baht will be eliminated.

[11] Almost two-thirds of lottery gamblers in Thailand (61.3%) were in low income bracket, earning almost a quarter less than the average monthly salary.

[12] Though marked-up prices from street vendors are still commonplace, the ongoing crackdown has created significant difficulties to ticket sellers.

Thai lottery tickets, whether TGL or TCL, are pre-printed, include a number of anti-counterfeiting features,[14] and can only be purchased in "ticket-pairs".

Ten "guests" unaffiliated with the lottery attend each drawing to act as official witnesses.

For prizes of more than 20,000 baht, the winning ticket and its holder must be present in person at the government lottery office in Nonthaburi where a cheque will be issued.

As a small underground lottery business can be started with just a notebook and a pen, they are ubiquitous, and an effective crackdown is impossible.