On Sep 16, I could have been a lucky birthday girl had I bought the lottery with five and seven as the last two digits. Although my intuition told me to buy these numbers which represented my age, I didn't.
However this year, I have not spent money on state lottery except for few tickets I bought as a birthday present for a friend, who had asked me to find a ticket with his birth year.
For me, there's little chance of winning even the smallest prize and nearly impossible to win the grand prize that makes people millionaires overnight.
For many Thais, playing the lottery or huay is a way of life that provides a climax on the 1st and 16th of each month when drawing for the winning numbers takes place.
Hopeful people wait for the result by listening to the radio, watching a TV broadcast, or by following a livestream on these two days each month.
For the latest lottery draw on Nov 16, many anticipated that 46 would be the lucky number, following Joe Biden's victory in the 2020 presidential elections, which will make him the 46th president of the United States.
Indeed, people were not disappointed as the last two digits were 46 while the first three digits were 368 and 741 and the last three digits 255 and 208. Meanwhile, the number that won the grand prize was 972661.
Considering that the previous winning number was 40 on Nov 1, many players may not have bet on 46 and selected other numbers.
While some people question whether the results are manipulated, others believe in numerology which is based on the mystical relationship between numbers and coinciding events, which in this case was the US presidential election.
Playing the lottery hence is rooted in superstition, the paranormal, and very much a vibrant Thai culture.
Finding clues for lucky numbers often features in news reporting. For example, you may see explanations about how markings on trees or animals can be interpreted into numbers.
A belief that negative events can lead to fortune drives people to choose license plate numbers of vehicles in road accidents that have led to the death of others.
Other strategies include simply interpreting a dream and faring to temples and shrines known for bringing good luck and fortune.
This year, hopefuls have particularly flocked to Wat Chedi in Sichon district, Nakhon Si Thammarat, to worship Ai Khai, the boy spirit residing in a century-old wood statue at the temple.
The legend of Ai Khai, his name refers to an egg, has attracted visitors seeking his blessings.
If their wishes, such as winning the lottery, are granted, they have to return to the temple and set off firecrackers and make offerings to Ai Khai's spirit.
Last week, a former pop star returned to the temple and follow the customary practice of kae bon in setting off the firecrackers as it was the first time she had won the lottery.
Her posts on social media, which also made the news, will probably draw even more visitors to Wat Chedi now.
Meanwhile, another big headline was the conclusion of a court battle between a teacher and retired policeman. In the end, the Kanchanaburi Court returned the prize money to the retired police officer as he was the rightful owner of the lottery tickets.
The problem of lottery theft and overpricing can be solved by the Government Lottery Office (GLO) launching a mobile application so that buyers can directly purchase the tickets from trusted sources.
This was a suggestion provided at a seminar titled "Overpriced Lottery Tickets…Can We Fix This?" held by the Stop Gambling Foundation in mid-September.
The seminar also revealed that Thais spend around 200 billion baht on government lottery tickets every year.
Currently, the GLO is preparing to hold a hearing on the online sale of lottery tickets, a project opposed by ticket vendors and distributors.
Planned to start at beginning of next year, the public hearing will provide a clear idea of the feasibility of the online lottery project. The outcome will be forwarded to the cabinet and a draft ministerial regulation will be issued, prior to implementation.
Whether the tickets can be bought online or only physically, I'm not in the game except perhaps in mid-September next year when I'll consider buying tickets with the magic number 58 or 85.
Kanokporn Chanasongkram is a feature writer for the Life section of the Bangkok Post.