Key points:
- World Bank praises Thailand’s lottery scheme for incentivising retirement savings
- Low-cost model encourages participation in formal financial systems
- Initiative under review ahead of 2026 World Bank-IMF meetings in Bangkok
The World Bank is considering Thailand’s retirement lottery as a blueprint for promoting savings among citizens in other developing countries with limited pension coverage.
Deputy Finance Minister Paopoom Rojanasakul discussed the scheme during bilateral meetings with senior World Bank officials in Washington, in the context of welfare reform for ageing societies. The discussions form part of preparations for the 2026 World Bank and International Monetary Fund meetings, which Thailand is set to host.
Thailand is ageing at a pace faster than the global average, but fiscal capacity remains adequate, according to the World Bank’s preliminary assessment. The retirement lottery, officially under the National Savings Fund, has received particular recognition for its innovation.
The scheme involves digital scratch-off tickets priced at THB50 (US$1.35) each, available to citizens aged 15 and older, with a monthly purchase cap of THB3,000. Weekly draws offer cash prizes, but all ticket purchases are recorded as savings. Participants will receive the full value of their contributions, along with investment returns, upon reaching the age of 60.
Government estimates indicate the scheme operates on an annual budget of approximately THB750m while generating up to THB13bn in savings per year. The programme is seen as encouraging citizens to shift from informal gambling to more structured financial behaviour.
The measure passed its first reading in the House of Representatives and is currently under review by a 31-member parliamentary committee. Further readings are scheduled once Parliament reconvenes.
The World Bank intends to examine the model in detail, with a view to adapting it for use in other countries with similar demographic and fiscal conditions.
