Bangkok: Get ready to buy the "Retirement Lottery" in the fourth quarter of this year. ©Phao Phum revealed that the "retirement lottery" is ready to be considered by the Senate for the first time this Monday (August 4, 2025), and is confident that it will be available for purchase in the fourth quarter of this year.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Paopum Rojanasakul, Deputy Minister of Finance, announced the progress on the retirement lottery (NSF), stating that the process is now in its final stage following the Cabinet's approval of the National Savings Fund's initiative to promote retirement savings through the NSF project. The NSF has been tasked with amending the relevant NSF Act, and the bill will be presented to the Senate for its initial reading on August 4th. This reading will determine whether the draft law's principles are approved. Subsequent steps include the establishment of a committee for the second and third readings, with the Senate having a 30-day period to complete the proposal, as mandated by law. The proposal is expected to be finalized by the month's end, after which it will proceed to the royal endorsement process for enactment. Mr. Paopum expressed confidence that the public would be able to purchase retirement lottery tickets in the fourth quarter.
Mr. Paopum emphasized that the retirement lottery is a secure savings mechanism, where funds are retained for retirement rather than lost or misused. The funds are saved for future use, ensuring no loss to the public.
The retirement lottery operates under specific rules: Tickets can be purchased via the Government Savings Bank (GSB) application and other channels under discussion. Each ticket costs 50 baht, with a maximum purchase limit of 3,000 baht per month. Tickets are available for purchase 24/7, with draws occurring every Friday at 5:00 PM. The first prize consists of a 6-digit number with a 1,000,000 baht reward, and five such prizes are available. The second prize is divided into 3-digit front and back numbers, with 5,000 prizes for each category, totaling 10,000 prizes. Prize money is transferred directly to the purchaser's PromptPay account. If prizes are not fully drawn, the remaining prize money rolls over to the next draw, known as the jackpot prize.
Regardless of whether a prize is won, every baht spent on a lottery ticket is considered a jackpot and is stored in an individual savings account via the GSB, accessible only upon reaching age 60. The money in the account will accrue returns from low-risk investments like government bonds and debt instrument mutual funds until retirement.
The lottery is accessible to all, with a maximum monthly purchase limit of 3,000 baht to ensure broad distribution. Purchasers must be at least 15 years old and hold Thai nationality. If a purchaser passes away before reaching 60, the lottery ticket funds and savings are transferred to their heir or designated inheritor. Those over 60 can still participate but must hold their tickets for five years before receiving a refund. The possibility of early withdrawal of funds before age 60 is currently under consideration.
Mr. Paopum highlighted that the retirement lottery is a randomized purchase, with no number selection. It is a risk-free savings program, where funds are only received and not paid out. The prize fund is sourced from the central budget, estimated at 700-800 million baht per month, and is projected to generate 16 times the savings, approximately 13,000 baht annually.