The underground lottery phenomenon in Bangkok, Thailand, has once again attracted attention. According to a recent report jointly released by the Somdej Public Opinion Center and Rajabhat Bansomdejchaopraya University, although most Thai people are aware that the underground lottery is illegal, it is generally regarded as a "common practice" in society.
Underground Lottery Permeates the Public, Becoming an "Unspoken Rule"
This survey covered 1,254 respondents nationwide, showing that 66.8% of people have witnessed underground lottery gambling, 27.8% admit to having participated. More notably, although nearly eight out of ten (79.7%) are aware of its illegality, 49.5% of respondents believe that the underground lottery is a "normal social phenomenon".
Assistant Professor Singh Singkachoen pointed out that lotteries have been part of Thai culture for over a hundred years, deeply integrated into daily life. Underground lotteries, with their high odds and easy accessibility, are widely circulated among the public, making them difficult to regulate.
Official Digital Lottery Fails to Impress
To address the issue of high government lottery prices (over 80 Thai Baht), the government launched the "Paotang" digital lottery app. However, data indicates that this measure has not effectively curbed the underground market:
41.2% believe that the app does not help combat the underground lottery
39.5% believe it does not address the issue of high ticket prices
This shows that the digital lottery platform has not become a powerful alternative to legal lotteries, nor has it shaken the foundation of the underground system.
Majority of the Public Supports Stricter Enforcement
Despite the deep-rooted nature of the underground lottery, 64.5% of respondents support the government's strict crackdown; however, only 36.6% believe that the current enforcement is sufficient. This reflects the general expectation of the public for the government to intensify its efforts, yet the actual governance effectiveness remains to be improved.
Conclusion
The underground lottery in Thailand is not only an economic issue but also a cultural and governance problem. Most people know it's illegal, yet still tacitly allow or even participate, indicating that this gray area is deeply embedded in the social structure. If the government wants to eradicate it, it needs to go beyond technical measures and adopt a comprehensive approach involving law, culture, and pricing mechanisms to rebuild the credibility and attractiveness of legal lotteries.
