Thailand’s N3 lottery might be scrapped due to poor sales
The Finance Ministry is evaluating the future of the N3 lottery due to its lacklustre public response since its introduction last November.
Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat announced yesterday, January 7, that the three-digit lottery (N3), designed to rival illegal lotteries and expensive six-digit tickets (L6), has not met expectations during its trial phase.
Introduced on November 1 as part of a six-month sandbox programme, the N3 lottery offers tickets priced at 20 baht through 800 authorised sellers across the country. The programme aimed to provide a legal alternative and reduce underground lottery sales by 10 to 20% each year.
Despite these efforts, sales have significantly underperformed, with only 1.17 million tickets sold last month out of the 5 million available per draw.
Critics have pointed out that the N3 lottery does not adequately tackle issues such as the dominance of middlemen in the L6 market and systemic inefficiencies in the distribution system.
Julapun stated that a comprehensive evaluation of the N3 lottery’s impact will be conducted after the sandbox phase concludes in April. If performance continues to fall short of expectations, the government may consider cancelling the initiative, reported Bangkok Post.
ORIGINAL STORY: Jackpot: New Thai government lottery tickets now on sale, 20 baht
The new N3 three-digit lottery tickets are now on sale, offering a total prize pool of 2 million baht. Each ticket costs 20 baht, and the first draw is scheduled for November 1.
The Government Lottery Office (GLO) announced the launch of N3 three-digit lottery tickets, available to the public today, October 17. The tickets, priced at 20 baht each, are part of a six-month Sandbox testing phase. A total of 2 million tickets are up for grabs in this initial phase, with the first draw set for November 1.
Purchasing these N3 tickets is straightforward, with multiple methods available. They can be bought from over 400 participating 80 Lottery project stores nationwide or through the Pao Tang application. In the app, users need to navigate to the three-digit lottery section, select any number between 000 and 999, and complete the payment process. There are no restrictions on the numbers, ensuring all combinations are available.
After selecting the desired numbers and making the payment, buyers receive a QR code. Scanning this QR code finalises the purchase, and the ticket is added to the My Lottery section in the app, where results and winnings can be tracked. The system is designed to be user-friendly, ensuring even those new to digital transactions can participate with ease.
The lottery is available for purchase from 6am daily during the testing phase, which will run for six months. Full-scale sales are expected to begin in April next year.
The N3 lottery offers four types of prizes:
1. Three-digit exact match: matching all three digits in the exact order of the first prize of the six-digit lottery. The odds of winning are 1 in 1,000.
2. Three-digit mixed order: matching all three digits in any order, with at least two digits in the correct place. The odds vary between 1 in 200 and 1 in 500.
3. Two-digit exact match: matching the last two digits of the first prize in the six-digit lottery. The odds are 1 in 100.
4. Special prize: drawn from the pool of winners of the three-digit exact match, this prize is awarded after the main six-digit lottery draw each month.
The N3 lottery draws occur twice a month, on the 1st and 16th. The prize money distribution is as follows: 30% for the three-digit exact match, 30% for the three-digit mixed order, 39% for the two-digit exact match, and 1% for the special prize.
Revenue from ticket sales is allocated into three parts: 60% for prizes, at least 23% for state revenue, and up to 17% for administrative expenses. The prize amounts vary depending on the number of winners for each type of prize in a given draw. If there are no winners for a particular prize type, the prize money rolls over to the next draw. If there are still no winners, the rolled-over amount is added to the state revenue.
GLO Director Lieutenant Colonel Sanongkanok emphasised that during the six-month testing phase, up to two million tickets will be sold, with a potential increase to 10 million tickets based on demand. He reassured that the system is designed to be transparent and fair, with no restrictions on the numbers that can be purchased.
With the introduction of the N3 lottery, the GLO aims to provide a new and exciting way for the public to participate in the lottery, while ensuring a smooth and secure purchasing process through physical and digital platforms, reported KhaoSod.
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