With the official grand celebrations to mark the 60th anniversary of His Majesty's accession to the throne set to begin next week, many lottery buyers had gambled on the number, hoping - in this case rightly - it would prove lucky.

An official said the Government Lottery Office (GLO) would have to pay out Bt380million in prizes to those who speculated on 99.

As soon as the announcer read out the two-digit winning number, the hall in which the numbers are drawn erupted. After all, this was the widely speculated number among lottery buyers.

"When combining all the prizes together, the GLO will have to pay out about Bt1.55billion for the latest period, which represents a loss of Bt15million," the official said.

This is the third consecutive period in which the GLO has operated at a loss.

There are two lottery-drawing periods each month. However, no one hit the biggest jackpot at yesterday's draw because the booklet numbered 99 - which is required to win the jackpot - remained unsold.

To claim the jackpot, a ticket must match its six-digit serial number with the first-prize winning number and its booklet number with the figure drawn specially to decide the jackpot.

Yesterday's jackpot stood at Bt64.39million.

This meant that the number 99 was drawn twice yesterday: once for the two-digit winning number and the other for the jackpot booklet number. Bangkok City Clerk Khunying Nathanon Thavisin chaired the draw, with former Miss Thailand queens also taking part.

GLO director Surasit Sangkhapong said the GLO was not in any difficulty despite operating at a loss for three consecutive periods. "The main point is that we conduct our draws transparently," he said, offering his congratulations to the lottery winners.