Thai Lottery changes a bid to reduce 'grey money': govt

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LOTTO
Lottery changes a bid to reduce 'grey money': govt
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- THE government says its move to try and solve the problem of expensive state lottery tickets is a bid to |control so-called "grey money".

Grey money" earned from selling the tickets above Bt80 apiece might have been used in other illegal activities or support activities that could have damaged the country, deputy government spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd said yesterday.

Sansern said that Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha's decision to replace the Government Lottery Office's board on Friday night by |invoking Article 44 of the provisional constitution was designed to boost the agency's management efficiency.

The change should enable better regulating of lottery ticket sales and appropriate prices, he said.

First Army Region deputy chief Maj-General Apirat Kongsompong is the GLO's new chairman.

As part of a government order issued on Friday night, people caught selling overpriced lottery tickets will be subject to up to one month in prison and/or a fine of up to Bt10,000 from June 16.

The current penalty is a fine of up to Bt2,000.

Many lottery vendors in Chiang Mai said yesterday that they disagreed with the order because they thought it was not tackling the problem at the root cause.

They also said that selling lottery tickets for Bt80 may result in |no profit, meaning they may have |to find other jobs.

Parakorn Khamdech, president of the Chiang Mai Association of the Blind, said the government should solve the problem at its root cause and consider the feasibility of |selling tickets for Bt80 and the |vendors' profits because the association bought tickets at Bt7,400 per book for a profit of only Bt7.4 per ticket.

If tickets were sold at Bt80 each, the profit would shrink to Bt5, he added.

Vendor Chanthalak Boonnoon, 56, said she felt tired and wondered why the government didn't think about the vendors' well-being too.

"If we sell at Bt80 per ticket, where will we get a profit from?" she said. "These days we only get Bt5 to Bt10 in profit from selling tickets.

"If we don't get this kind of profit, what is the point of continuing in this business, in which we would only suffer losses?"

She urged the government to come up with a clear system that is practical.

In Udon Thani, many lottery shops on Prajak Silpakhom Road in Muang district are quieter than usual these days as only a few vendors sell the May 16 round of lottery tickets.

Vendor Sunee Wisaleewat said she didn't dare put the tickets - which she bought from a supplier at Bt80 per ticket - on sale for between Bt90 and Bt100 because it might result in severe punishment from the government.

She wants the government to solve the problem of inflated ticket prices without hurting vendors.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Lottery-changes-a-bid-to-reduce-grey-money-govt-30259273.html


-- The Nation 2015-05-04

[clockman]

Only in Thailand, would you have this lottery! It shows exactly what is wrong with there society.

[marko kok prong]

Last week i was in Wichianburi [petchabun province],having some beers with some other expats,they were asking 120 baht for a ticket,so the price has actually gone up since the new order,my freind and i jokingly told the lady they were meant to be 80baht,and we would tell the general,she found this hysterical,as she knows full well it will never be enforced,certainly not out here in the boonies.

[SlyAnimal]

lol, there's no way that they'll do this.

Most of the people I see selling lottery tickets never seem like "rich" people to me, despite the "normal" price being somewhere between ฿100 - ฿120 per ticket, depending on how close to the draw + how "lucky" the remaining numbers are.

Although their employers might make some decent amounts, but primarily based on the volume of tickets sold.

But reducing profit margins from around ฿35 per ticket, down to ฿5 per ticket is excessive. After the boss takes their cut, the vendors wouldn't be left with anything.

[zaphod reborn]

The lottery only causes misery. It should be shut down. Selling lottery tickets - what a useless occupation!

[Anthony5]

lol, there's no way that they'll do this.

Most of the people I see selling lottery tickets never seem like "rich" people to me, despite the "normal" price being somewhere between ฿100 - ฿120 per ticket, depending on how close to the draw + how "lucky" the remaining numbers are.

Although their employers might make some decent amounts, but primarily based on the volume of tickets sold.

But reducing profit margins from around ฿35 per ticket, down to ฿5 per ticket is excessive. After the boss takes their cut, the vendors wouldn't be left with anything.

And the reason this happens is because, as always in Thailand, too many greedy middle men want easy money and get away with it because the country is full of lazy idiots.

The tickets are sold by the government at a price below the one that is printed on the ticket, but the buyer sells the whole lot in one at 80Bht to someone who in turn sells the whole lot in one at 90Bht to someone who sells the whole lot at 100Bht to ...............................

In my country there is also a National lottery for decades already, but I've never seen a ticket been sold above ticket price, but then I'v also never seen hundreds of ticket sellers sitting on their lazy arse outside banks and shopping malls.

Edited May 4, 2015 by Anthony5

[Srikcir]

"If we sell at Bt80 per ticket, where will we get a profit from?"

Sell more tickets?

Or find some other unskilled emplyment.

[seajae]

I actually thought the sellers were supposed to be the disabled, those unable to do normal work but the majority of sellers are healthy people that simply cant be bothered doing manual labour so they do this instead. Maybe if they made sure the only sellers were the the disabled etc they would sell more tickets with less competition and make more money. If they want bigger profits then tell them to get a real job instead of ripping off ordinary thais with the big mark ups, have only licenced sellers so that middle men cant mark up prices anymore.

[ChrisY1]

Just stop the lottery for 12 months........!

[Strangebrew]

How hard is it for the government issue tickets to vendors at 75 baht each sell at 80 baht vendor keeps 5 baht each vendor gets 1000 tickets to sell once sold they return to get another 1000 tickets to sell and turn over the 75,000 baht they got from selling tickets. If they fail to return the cash then jail time

[shaurene]

The lottery only causes misery. It should be shut down. Selling lottery tickets - what a useless occupation!

What a useless comment, they do it to try and earn a living not to get rich. Not like the western country's the lazy bastards there claim the Dole and get a living from the Tax payer.

[joskeshake]

In Pattaya you have to pay everywhere 120 or no tickets,they not wont to go down in price.

[Nobb]

Hope the new government makes this law stay and protect the poor people who have a dream about being wealthy. In Chiang Mia they sell the tickets for 110 bahts. Good law that the bad people will hate. Do they pay taxes on there profits?

[trainman34014]

All the real money is made at the top end and the General knows that, so why doesn't he go right to the heart of the problem and take it out?

The best way to deal with all the problems is shut the lot down for several months and bring in a completely new system geared to Computerised ticketing as per the UK or another European system which are thief proof. Much too simple for cluttered Thai minds i guess.

[peterb17]

The lottery only causes misery. It should be shut down. Selling lottery tickets - what a useless occupation!

What a useless comment, they do it to try and earn a living not to get rich. Not like the western country's the lazy bastards there claim the Dole and get a living from the Tax payer.

Totally agree- in the UK a family can claim up to 1.25 million baht a year in state handouts .

The men and women on the streets with their small businesses selling squid, fruit, brushes or ice cream etc are just trying to get by and make enough to pay for a room and feed their families- better than begging . I have the utmost admiration for these people- it's hard , hot, work.

So many people who post seem to think we are living in a Western country- for many life is hard.

The main problem is lack of social mobility- and the control the elite class has over Thailand .

Education is the key- but it's going to take time.

[Anthony5]

How hard is it for the government issue tickets to vendors at 75 baht each sell at 80 baht vendor keeps 5 baht each vendor gets 1000 tickets to sell once sold they return to get another 1000 tickets to sell and turn over the 75,000 baht they got from selling tickets. If they fail to return the cash then jail time

They get 1000 tickets and turn over the 75.000 Bht once they are sold

[maidee]

legalize casino's?

tax them 90% of their profits ?

[wowfactor10]

Thai lottery its huge business but just only for a small group behind the scene..

[rametindallas]

legalize casino's?

tax them 90% of their profits ?

Do you know how much cash flows through a casino?

Neither does the government. Do you really believe the casinos will report all their winnings? In Thailand?

Why do you suggest facilitating another Mafia revenue stream?

I worked at a casino, on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, for three years, we would get a huge influx of customers on the day the welfare or Social Security checks went out. Also young men, and their 'aunties', playing $20 slot machines to launder their drug money; "I won it at the casino and paid taxes on it", with no records kept on how much he had to spend to get those laundered 'winnings'. Watch the movie, 'Casino' if you get a chance.

[phoenixdoglover]

Setting a ticket price below market likely will hurt most the honest small sellers. How does this address the organized criminals? They will still act as middle men, taking their cut and controlling sellers, regardless of the official ticket price.

By analogy, look at any country with a weak currency propped up by low official rates. The black market thrives.

Edited May 4, 2015 by phoenixdoglover

[MaiChai]

Lottery ticket sellers is a bad idea. How do you know its not a fake ticket? Better it is computerized and special tills are required that print the ticket for you and contact a central server to register the ticket sale. Sounds like the lottery needs a shake up!

[cookee68]

lol, there's no way that they'll do this.

Most of the people I see selling lottery tickets never seem like "rich" people to me, despite the "normal" price being somewhere between ฿100 - ฿120 per ticket, depending on how close to the draw + how "lucky" the remaining numbers are.

Although their employers might make some decent amounts, but primarily based on the volume of tickets sold.

But reducing profit margins from around ฿35 per ticket, down to ฿5 per ticket is excessive. After the boss takes their cut, the vendors wouldn't be left with anything.

Its a lottery how could any body say what are lucky numbers

[PlastikbinLina]

The lottery only causes misery. It should be shut down. Selling lottery tickets - what a useless occupation!

Your lack of compassion for the struggling and unemployed people of Thailand indicates you have never had a problem with a lack of education, occupation and a rocky road. Get real. There are people in this world who do whatever they can to make a living, feed kids and sick relatives, especially single mums in desperate situations. Perhaps one day you will fall on hard times too and then reflect on your callous remarks.