Will the dream of fixed-price Thai lottery tickets come true?

[webfact]

BURNING ISSUE
Will the dream of fixed-price lottery tickets come true?
Supon Thanukid

BANGKOK: -- A lottery ticket for Bt80 - will it be the realisation of a dream or an unfulfilled fantasy? Those who once or twice a month pin their hopes on getting rich fast are praying that the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) will do its best to achieve the former outcome.

Over one month after taking control of the country, the NCPO has demonstrated that it has the capability and competency to get things done swiftly and effectively. The junta's spokesman has even said the military would prove that it could finish in a month some jobs that other governments would take years to complete.

The junta's approval rating has soared as it has shown a determination to tackle pressing issues that Thais have struggled with in their everyday life. The NCPO has vowed to eradicate the influence of "mafias" in businesses such as motorcycle taxis, vans and taxis to protect both customers and workers. It has also regulated the alien workers sector to ensure that workers are protected against police extortion.

There is one mission the NCPO has yet to accomplish, however, and that is fixing the retail price of a government lottery ticket across the country at Bt80.

Successive governments have been unable to resolve the issue of overpriced lottery tickets. Some have promised bold attempts to "unravel the knot" of inflated ticket prices, but nothing tangible has happened. Nobody knows exactly what the blockage is. Could it be that whoever is behind this empire is "untouchable"?

Since the junta declared its ambition to address the pricing conundrum, the issue has become a hot topic of discussion. The junta has vowed not to accept one single baht of kickback from anyone.

However, the NCPO's order that government lottery tickets must be sold at Bt80 at every point of sale in Thailand for the July 16 draw has met with resistance within the lottery business circle.

NCPO chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha later softened his stance by saying that at some points of sale, tickets will be allowed to sell at Bt92.

He explained that the difficulty lies with breaking ongoing contracts signed with wholesalers. However, once the contracts expire, they will not be renewed, he insisted.

Prayuth's remark puts the five main ticket wholesalers, also known as "the five tigers", in the hot seat because the contracts are renewed on an annual basis.

The NCPO has decided to do away with quotas in the ticket distribution system. This will prevent the allocation of tickets to large wholesalers so that they are directly distributed to retailers at a fair price.

Although there is a clear rationale behind the junta's move, the solution may not solve the problem, as retailers may not want to face the business risk of not selling all their tickets.

Small retailers do not have financial backup. Many need to deal with loan sharks to survive, mortgaging their property and assets. They barely survive because they have to pay crippling interest to loan sharks. What would happen if they couldn't sell out their tickets in each draw?

If this is the case, the matter of overpriced tickets will not be completely solved. The junta's management is being put to the test. Let's wait and see if the Bt80-per-ticket mission will become a reality or just an impossible dream.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Will-the-dream-of-fixed-price-lottery-tickets-come-30238270.html


-- The Nation 2014-07-11

[clockman]

Scrap the whole corrupt mess. Start again. But it will never happen. T.I.T.

[MYKTHEMIN]

90 baht in my local Tesco yesterday, down from 120.

[Hawk]

The tickets will increase to 100 baht or more on the 15th and 16th. The vendors overcharge because the buyers are willing to pay any price to get that special lucky dream number.

Blame the buyers because if they stopped buying then the vendors would be forced to sell at the correct price.

[taff33]

The tickets will increase to 100 baht or more on the 15th and 16th. The vendors overcharge because the buyers are willing to pay any price to get that special lucky dream number.

Blame the buyers because if they stopped buying then the vendors would be forced to sell at the correct price.[/quote

90 Baht in Lampang, she said it cost her 84 baht to by it.

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

[pookiki]

Whatever happened to the idea to have a computerized lottery ticket selling system? That way, I wouldn't be hunting for my ticket # all the time. Simply go into 7-11 and tell them the number I want. Is the purpose of the lottery to employ ticket sellers or to put money into the treasury with as little expense/overhead as possible?

[KamalaRider]

It seems everyone, including the junta, have forgotten about the 3% fee deducted from the winnings.

What about that money?

Who's the benefactor?

[kimchibob]

100 baht here in Pattaya, down from 110.

[Krataiboy]

There is one mission the NCPO has yet to accomplish, however, and that is fixing the retail price of a government lottery ticket across the country at Bt80.

Pretty dubious "mission" in a country where gambling is against the law and the official religion is Buddhism, which is all about overcoming the desire for material wealth and possessions.

But why let such trivialities stand between the people and the "happiness" of getting their noses deeper into the trough?

[Thailand]

90 baht in one place in Chiangmai.

Although another vendor who is selling at 80 baht said many people are now buying 2 tickets at 160 baht so spending is actually increasing- big fail!

[Suradit69]

Scrap the whole corrupt mess. Start again. But it will never happen. T.I.T.

"But it will never happen. T.I.T."

How clever and original. T.I.TV.

There is one mission the NCPO has yet to accomplish, however, and that is fixing the retail price of a government lottery ticket across the country at Bt80.

Pretty dubious "mission" in a country where gambling is against the law and the official religion is Buddhism, which is all about overcoming the desire for material wealth and possessions.

But why let such trivialities stand between the people and the "happiness" of getting their noses deeper into the trough?

'Pretty dubious "mission" '

The article seems to have a fairly obvious whiff of sarcasm attached to it. As is demonstrated each year on April Fool's Day, the average Thai Visa poster seems to be flummoxed by the fine art of in-your-face lampooning.

Edited July 11, 2014 by Suradit69

[Blindside]

I certainly would not hold them to this one. I think some of the other things they are doing are far more valuable and laudable.

Almost impossible to police this and if there is willing buyer willing seller then what does it matter if the prices are inflated. It hardly is a staple or some necessity. If people want to waste their money on it....

One of the ladies working at the local bar I frequent recently won 80000 baht in the lottery. It was gone in less than 2 weeks and sweet FA to show for it.

If I was the NPCO I would not even waste my energy on this one.

[Heng]

Whatever happened to the idea to have a computerized lottery ticket selling system? That way, I wouldn't be hunting for my ticket # all the time. Simply go into 7-11 and tell them the number I want. Is the purpose of the lottery to employ ticket sellers or to put money into the treasury with as little expense/overhead as possible?

It'll happen as soon as whoever gets the river of funds provided by running the system "as is" gets tired of money (and power).

:-)

[pookiki]

Whatever happened to the idea to have a computerized lottery ticket selling system? That way, I wouldn't be hunting for my ticket # all the time. Simply go into 7-11 and tell them the number I want. Is the purpose of the lottery to employ ticket sellers or to put money into the treasury with as little expense/overhead as possible?

It'll happen as soon as whoever gets the river of funds provided by running the system "as is" gets tired of money (and power).

:-)

Yeah, you're right. So much for reform.