Before a lucky draw this week, a middle-aged woman stared intently at a stall in front of Bangkok’s shopping mall. She prayed and plucked three lottery tickets, 100 baht each, out of endless possibilities. “I hope you will win the prize,” Sudta Tamnudee, a vendor, told her first customer.
She has sold lottery tickets for two months to supplement her income. Born in Ubon Ratchathani, she moved to Bangkok many decades ago. Since then, she has been a caregiver, but the loss of her elderly patient caused a wage cut. Still, her employer has asked her to look after a child and a cat.
Her sales, however, have…
