Many Ubon Ratchathani people slammed the move to suspend the two- and three-digit lottery at the December 1 and 16 draws.

They worry that the suspension will bring back underground lotteries, because many Thais are addicted to gambling, agent Somchat Thongprasert, 65, said.

Somchat said he would not order more six-digit lottery tickets during the two-draw cancellation.

He believed gamblers would head for casinos in neighbouring countries.

Customer Thongchan Phromnoi saw the cancellation as a violation of freedom and believed it would only affect the incomes of lottery-sellers and the government. A return of underground games would see shady characters re-emerge, he said.

Surat Thani policeman Superintendent Colonel Atthapol Plengwittaya said police would be on the watch for underground lottery operators in the days before the draws and arrest them.