Thai editorial: Bets off over lottery scam

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EDITORIAL
Bets off over lottery scam
The Nation

The crackdown on overpricing faces serious opposition from unscrupulous ticket distributors

BANGKOK: -- The government is getting tough over the longstanding problem of overpriced lottery tickets. Most customers have forgotten when they last bought a government lottery ticket for the stated price of Bt80.

For the past several years, millions of Thais have had to pay an unofficial surcharge for our fortnightly flutter. As a result, an estimated Bt10 billion per year has been going into the pockets of profiteers.

The authorities' failure to enforce the stated price is partly to blame for the overpricing problem, but the Government Lottery Office (GLO) system for distributing the tickets exacerbates the problem. The GLO disburses them by quota to official distributors, with the remainder sold directly to small-time vendors. The 10 largest distributors are allocated 22.7 million lottery tickets, or 30.7 per cent of the total 74 million issued for each prize draw.

The system is efficient, ensuring that all GLO-issued tickets are sold ahead of the prize draws on the first and 16th day of every month. But it is unfair to small-scale vendors and to buyers. Many of the tickets are passed through a hierarchy of distributors until sold on to small-time vendors at more than their face value. This explains why lottery tickets normally retail for between Bt90 and Bt110 - and even higher for numbers considered more desirable.

Despite an order issued by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha that offenders be slapped with a one-month jail term and a fine of up to Bt10,000, vendors continue to display prices of Bt100 and more per ticket. (Authorities have allowed some leeway by announcing they won't start enforcing

the order until the end of this month.)

On May 1 Prayut ordered that the GLO's executive board be dismissed for having failed to solve the overpricing problem. The following day he appointed Maj-General Apirach Kongsompong, deputy commander of the First Army Area, as the new chairman of the board.

We have yet to see whether the tough penalties and actions of the new board will help solve the overpricing problem.

Opening new channels for the sale of lottery tickets should also help. Adding lottery vending machines and more outlets would provide easier access for buyers and the ability to choose their desired numbers. Critics of this idea warn that it only encourages gambling, but we doubt the number of lottery hopefuls would rise significantly. Among those who oppose lottery vending machines and more outlets are underground lottery operators and corrupt officials, who know they stand to lose from any changes to the current system of distribution.

But that change must come if we are to prevent lottery profiteering. If we can engineer less demand for particular numbers and a more efficient system of lottery vending, overpricing will end.

However, to achieve that goal, the authorities involved need to show far more determination and decisiveness than they have so far, overcoming the vested interests and crony business practices that have held sway for so long.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/opinion/Bets-off-over-lottery-scam-30260051.html


-- The Nation 2015-05-14

[maoro2013]

Doesn't sound like this will work, its no good cracking down on the small time vendors. If this happens then no one will be selling lottery tickets. once again it is the middle men who make the money.

[clockman]

Just look how the rest of the world, runs a lottery! but. T.I.T.

[uptheos]

Just look how the rest of the world, runs a lottery! but. T.I.T.

Yup, doesn't seem to be rocket science.

[Bob12345]

I love this lottery ticket problem, as it clearly shows how capable the current government is.

With many of the other issues the government is tackling you never know if they actually did it. There is a press release, and maybe some pics taken, and from there onwards you just have to trust them the problem is gone. This problem is different, the government can say whatever they want but every person in Thailand can easily check if the tickets sell for 80 baht or not.

Maybe that is also why it is taking months and months for this problem to be solved. Makes me wonder how much we can believe from all the earlier press releases saying corruption is down, police investigations are done properly, a crackdown is taking place, etc.

[KarenBravo]

Doesn't matter who is in charge.

Until certain culture traits are changed, nothing else will.

[Acharn]

We have yet to see ...

Well, of course. They announced they aren't going to start enforcing this until the end of the month, so why on earth would you expect to see a change before then? This is a non-solution to a non-problem. A lottery is a tax on people who don't understand math. If they don't understand that it's stupid to buy a lottery ticket at ฿80, they aren't going to understand that it's even more stupid to buy the same ticket at ฿110. Has there suddenly been a shortage of people buying the tickets? Has the government suddenly been getting reduced income? What's the problem here, exactly?

[realenglish1]

An easy resolution for all of the problems LISTEN UP people this is Capitalizm at its best. Allow 7-11 type opperations across the nation start selling tickets. Selling at 80 or 100 baht whicherver is the desired level for the governement

Do nothing with the streeet vendors Let them sell for what they want to sell for . Within a short period of time they will realize that they cannot sell for above what the 7-11 type stores can sell for and will be forced by market conditions to sell for the prevailing rate that the stores sell them for

Include BIg C and other retailers across the country to sell the tickets and Presto with a few short months the price of a ticket nationwide by street vendors will come in line with the price of the store bought ticket

PROBLEM SOLVED BUT ................................................................................

The governemtent will not do this because it is the most logical sensable system that can be. Hands out will prevail

SO SAD a solution to the problem will not be implimented

Edited May 14, 2015 by realenglish1

[Bob12345]

We have yet to see ...

Well, of course. They announced they aren't going to start enforcing this until the end of the month, so why on earth would you expect to see a change before then? This is a non-solution to a non-problem. A lottery is a tax on people who don't understand math. If they don't understand that it's stupid to buy a lottery ticket at ฿80, they aren't going to understand that it's even more stupid to buy the same ticket at ฿110. Has there suddenly been a shortage of people buying the tickets? Has the government suddenly been getting reduced income? What's the problem here, exactly?

The problem is that a certain PM often speaks before he thinks. He made a promise to the people while nobody was asking him to solve this. Because, like you say, there is no real problem that requires the PM to act. And instead of admitting he is unable to tackle a minor thing like this it is being dragged out for months in a row and it is becoming an embarrassment for the PM (losing face in front of the whole country).

My guess is that he wont be able to solve this soon so they either temporary stop the lottery or imprison every reporter who dares write about it.

[oohay200]

Dear Editor,

You are spot on..........

This is THE solution and most probably the ONLY solution....online lottery ( via lottery dispensing / vending machines )....

Learn and adopt from those countries that had successfully implemented the online lottery for many many years.....

instead of try and hope and see if it works attitude.....

Below some simple steps on how the online lottery works :-

1. Lottery dispensing / vending machines will be placed at lottery shops, open in every soi,

all over the country ; similar shop model like 7 Eleven or Mart.

2. Some of the lottery shops can be allocated to vendors as agent, interested in selling lottery

as a business.

3. The lottery shops will hire operators to manned the counters, to operate the lottery dispensing / vending machine

4. People queue up and at the counter, inform the operator the number they wants to buy,

operator key the numbers, customer pay for it and they will be given a printed lottery ticket....Finished.....

5. All the numbers keyed into the lottery dispensing / vending machines, the data will be transferred to

GLO central networking system, from any part of the country.

6. Any winning tickets with small amount, the people can claim the prize from the lottery shops ;

whilst those bigger prize such as jackpot, will have to collect from the Headoffice, GLO.

a. Over pricing : checked

b. middlemen : checked

c. no return of unsold tickets : checked

d. waste pre-print lottery costs : checked

e. disable or poor can be employed as operators : checked

f. Long term solution : checked

Nothing difficult.....its a matter of whether one has the guts to implement them.........and this will change

the lottery industry forever.....

And the PM will be always remembered by all Thais, as the MAN that changed and advance the lottery system in Thailand.......

Please convey this comment to the PM, if you know him.....

[clokwise]

Thailand should implement the lottery system used in Taiwan for more than a couple decades already: All retailers will be required to issue official receipts with serial numbers, issued freely by the govt. The biweekly lottery is held and the winners are those holding official receipts with a matching sequence of numbers, the more numbers that match the greater the prize. This benefits the govt by effectively forcing all retailers to issue receipts and thus pay tax, because consumers will now always demand an official receipt because they want to join the lottery drawing. So simple, and it would solve two serious problems here. But of course TIT...

[Orac]

Dear Editor,

You are spot on..........

This is THE solution and most probably the ONLY solution....online lottery ( via lottery dispensing / vending machines )....

Learn and adopt from those countries that had successfully implemented the online lottery for many many years.....

instead of try and hope and see if it works attitude.....

Below some simple steps on how the online lottery works :-

1. Lottery dispensing / vending machines will be placed at lottery shops, open in every soi,

all over the country ; similar shop model like 7 Eleven or Mart.

2. Some of the lottery shops can be allocated to vendors as agent, interested in selling lottery

as a business.

3. The lottery shops will hire operators to manned the counters, to operate the lottery dispensing / vending machine

4. People queue up and at the counter, inform the operator the number they wants to buy,

operator key the numbers, customer pay for it and they will be given a printed lottery ticket....Finished.....

5. All the numbers keyed into the lottery dispensing / vending machines, the data will be transferred to

GLO central networking system, from any part of the country.

6. Any winning tickets with small amount, the people can claim the prize from the lottery shops ;

whilst those bigger prize such as jackpot, will have to collect from the Headoffice, GLO.

a. Over pricing : checked

b. middlemen : checked

c. no return of unsold tickets : checked

d. waste pre-print lottery costs : checked

e. disable or poor can be employed as operators : checked

f. Long term solution : checked

Nothing difficult.....its a matter of whether one has the guts to implement them.........and this will change

the lottery industry forever.....

And the PM will be always remembered by all Thais, as the MAN that changed and advance the lottery system in Thailand.......

Please convey this comment to the PM, if you know him.....

Thats all very well but how on earth is somebody going to be able to fasten one of these machines on to the front of their pushbike or carry one around around their neck so they can provide my wife with a ticket while she is having having her lunch. You can't possibly expect her to actually go somewhere to buy a ticket rather than wait for them to come to her do you???

[Laughing Gravy]

I love this lottery ticket problem, as it clearly shows how capable the current government is.

With many of the other issues the government is tackling you never know if they actually did it. There is a press release, and maybe some pics taken, and from there onwards you just have to trust them the problem is gone. This problem is different, the government can say whatever they want but every person in Thailand can easily check if the tickets sell for 80 baht or not.

Maybe that is also why it is taking months and months for this problem to be solved. Makes me wonder how much we can believe from all the earlier press releases saying corruption is down, police investigations are done properly, a crackdown is taking place, etc.

I would agree with you. Nothing can be believed. It is as farcical as 90% of all Thais are happy with the current government. There is more credibility that pigs can fly.

The lottery has always been a scam and a gravy train the those who are running the country.

[Srikcir]

Over and over again the military government rushes in to solve a problem with force and without thought (aka brain). Prayut even cites Article 44 to FORCE a solution. Yet the problem is a complex association of economic relationships between the government, distributors, and independent street vendors.

The military seems to always think of problem solving in terms of one side wins and one side loses. But it seems the solutions it tries are lose-lose solutions. And almost always it seems in particular the low income class comes out on the bottom. A more thoughtful, even-handed approach is needed to resolve the issue of overpricing:

-First is to establish what is an acceptable price relative to the chance to win? Obviously the market (aka public) is willing to pay Bt80-110 - how is that overpricing?

-Second is separation of distributors, mass marketers, and street vendors into independent revenue schemes. The military keeps attempting to make one-size fits all and it doesn't.

-Third is engage the lottery community on resolving the conflict. It's in their best interest to have a workable lottery or it is completely shut down - everyone loses.

However, such steps requires the Junta to work with the public without dictating the process of resolution. And that's beyond military culture.

[Johnny S]

Cant even run a simple lottery ... OMG the incompetence - are they 30 years after developed countries and rising by the month ... 55555

[KateKennett]

Well. simple way to stop lottery profiteering is to stop buying their tickets, stop playing lottery. Or if desire of playing is very strong, start searching another sources, maybe online. I don't think about myself like about venturesome person, but why not to try only once. I decided to try Australian Lotto. If loose, I will never try again. At least, I want to be like this.

[somo]

The undergound version works very well and pays out a lot more.Very efficient!