A national anti-gambling coalition has urged Thai political parties to withdraw proposals centred on “all kinds of lottery” schemes, arguing that such policies will deepen addiction and harm vulnerable citizens. As reported by The Nation, the five-region network issued a statement after several parties promoted lottery-driven incentives linked to savings programs and SME registration campaigns.
Secretary-general of the Stop Gambling Foundation Thanakorn Komkrit said the network unanimously rejected the policies. He noted that all lottery products, whether state-run or underground, fall under gambling as defined by the Gambling Act B.E. 2478. The network highlighted the vast financial scale of lottery participation.
According to its data, Thais spend more than THB 250bn each year on state and underground lotteries combined, a figure described as roughly triple annual purchases of LTF and RMF mutual funds. More than 27 million people purchased Government Lottery tickets in 2023, with 22 million participating in underground games. The network said these numbers far exceed participation in online gambling card games or football betting.
Campaigners also underscored the effect on vulnerable age groups. Surveys cited in the statement found that more than 500,000 minors purchased lottery products in 2023. Among young adults aged 19 to 25, almost 4 million engaged in lottery activity. Older adults also represented a significant share of players.
The network warned that expansion of legal lotteries drives parallel growth in underground markets. State printing of Government Lottery tickets has risen from 36 million in 2013 to more than 100 million today yet unregulated operators have expanded at a similar pace. Additional lottery formats would prompt further shadow lotteries referenced to state results and accelerate gambling participation.
The coalition concluded that political parties should offer constructive economic and social incentives rather than rely on lottery-based policies. It urged leaders to reduce the role of gambling in Thai society and support policies that promote long-term stability rather than what it described as “hopes that are entirely hopeless.”
In 2023 more than 400,000 children under 18 were recorded purchasing lottery products
