Despite making a tactical retreat by withdrawing a controversial bill to legalise the two- and three-digit lotteries from the National Legislative Assembly (NLA), Deputy Premier and Finance Minister MR Pridiyathorn Devakula yesterday insisted that he would resubmit the bill after making some changes to the content.

Although he did not mention when the right time was, a source close to him said the reviewed bill would be passed to the NLA in January.

"The two- and three-digit lotteries won't be cancelled," he said, adding that the bill would be reviewed and adjusted before it was resubmitted to the NLA.

During the NLA debate on Thursday, Pridiyathorn decided to withdraw the bill to amend the Government Lottery Act to legalise the lotteries, after he had faced heavy criticism from members of the NLA over its rationale.

He claimed he had just received disturbing information that around 1.5 million high-school and university students bought two- and three-digit lottery tickets for an average of Bt200 every month. The bill did not mention measures to prevent the growing number of young people from becoming involved with the lotteries, he said.

However, the withdrawal is seen as a tactical retreat for the government. While a group of 40 NLA members close to Sondhi Limthongkul, a leader of the People's Alliance for Democracy and a fierce enemy of deposed premier Thaksin Shinawatra, threatened to vote against the bill, the military-backed government was not prepared to put itself at risk as the action could ruin its legitimacy and stability.

Meanwhile, giving a view which contradicted Pridiyathorn's, Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont said the government was considering whether to cancel the two- and three-digit lotteries.

"We have been thinking about it," he said. The Social Development and Human Security Ministry would be responsible for the plan, which could be achieved in the long term, he said.

Society should be free of gambling, alcohol-drinking and nightlife, he added.

PM's Office Minister Prasith Kowilaikul said the government would review the bill by taking the concerns of the NLA members seriously, including a proposal to ban those under 20 years-old from buying lottery tickets.

The two- and three-digit lotteries were left in limbo as the withdrawal of the bill would indefinitely postpone the holding of both lotteries.

Initially, the government delayed the holding of the lotteries to December 30, but the NLA has not yet decided on whether the lotteries should be legalised.

Permanent Secretary for Finance Suparat Kawatkul said he had no idea when the controversial lotteries would be held as the bill to amend the lottery law had not been approved.

Several hundred lottery-ticket vendors and buyers gathered at the Government Lottery Office (GLO) yesterday to witness the first lottery draw in recent years that was not broadcast on television. The draw was made without the two- and three-digit lotteries, which have been suspended since November 17.

Lottery-ticket vendor Suwan Boonpeng said she did not understand why the government had stopped broadcasting the lottery on television, which forced her to travel to the GLO to witness the draw.

"The live TV programme is the best way to convince lottery-ticket buyers nationwide that the draw is transparent," she said.