IDENTITIES AND COMMUNICATION NETWORK OF THE MIDDLE-CLASS UNDERGROUND LOTTO GAMBLERS 140904081 NIDA E-THESIS 5911831014 dissertation / recv: 19092563 13:37:02 seq: 20 Wachirarat Nirantechaphat A Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Communication Arts and Innovation) The Graduate School of Communication Arts and Management Innovation National Institute of Development Administration 2020 IDENTITIES AND COMMUNICATION NETWORK OF THE MIDDLE-CLASS UNDERGROUND LOTTO GAMBLERS Wachirarat Nirantechaphat The Graduate School of Communication Arts and Management Innovation Major Advisor 140904081 (Associate Professor Asawin Nedpogaeo, Ph.D.) The Examining Committee Approved This Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Communication Arts and Innovation). NIDA E-THESIS 5911831014 dissertation / recv: 19092563 13:37:02 seq: 20 Committee Chairperson (Professor Patchanee Cheyjunya) Committee (Associate Professor Asawin Nedpogaeo, Ph.D.) Committee (Associate Professor Somsuk Hinviman, Ph.D.) Dean (Professor Yubol Benjarongkij, Ph.D.) ______/______/______ ABST RACT ABSTRACT Title of Dissertation IDENTITIES AND COMMUNICATION NETWORK OF THE MIDDLE-CLASS UNDERGROUND LOTTO GAMBLERS Author Wachirarat Nirantechaphat Degree Doctor of Philosophy (Communication Arts and 140904081 Innovation) Year 2020 NIDA E-THESIS 5911831014 dissertation / recv: 19092563 13:37:02 seq: 20 This research has the objectives to study the identies of middle-class underground lotto gamblers and the subsequent development of the communication network. The study examines the connection among major dealers, small dealers, sellers, and middle-class underground lotto gamblers. It is a qualitative research utilizing in-depth interview for data collection from 15 respondents from Nakhon Ratchasima Province. The respondents have more than 5 years experience with income more than 18,000 baht. Consideration would be made based on the occupation, family reputation, and lifestyle. Snowball sampling was used to access respondents. The 10 months period of study was August 1, 2019 to May 2, 2020. The researcher analyzed the text and context with supplementary field observation as a gambler to gain the insider view. The research findings are presented as follows: 1) There are 8 underground lotto gamblers, who are involved in the gambling habit because they want the thrill, entertainment, and networking with others. Middle-class underground lotto gamblers prefer to place bets with people they know, who generally have a good social standing and modern lifestyle. These people have graduated from both local and international institutions. They regularly join social activities and have a limit on the bets between 300-10,000 baht/draw. Most of the people started the gambling habit as a consequence of economic problems arising from political conflicts. As a result, they turned to gambling as a means for entertainment to help them through tough times. In addition, middle-class underground lotto gamblers depend on the supernatural for success. Fortune seeking becomes an important part of the characteristics of the gambler as successful business people, who have honor, status, and good education. Those, who can guess numbers accurately, are considered as lucky, having high merit with expansive iv social connections, and difficult to access. The presentation of underground lotto gamblers in media is different. They are presented as fortune seekers, who are fun loving, have stable business, always lucky winning lottery, help society, have a good heart, love merit making, have friends in many places, generous sharing good numbers, not affected by gambling, and willing to reveal themselves in the real and social media world within limited circles. 140904081 2) The 1 dealer, 2 sellers, and 4 gambler and sellers, started the business by absorbing the behavior from people around them. There are both old and new sellers. Some of them gamble and sell underground lotto. They are careful not to make it affect NIDA E-THESIS 5911831014 dissertation / recv: 19092563 13:37:02 seq: 20 their profitability. The financial circulation in the past was as high as 30 million baht. The children generation of dealers would make about 10 million baht. Sellers have sales volume of about 3,000 – 50,000 baht/draw. Dealers and sellers can openly receive bets when they have a good relationship with police, which facilitates small-time dealers. They can contact the major dealers easily on their phone at anytime. Technology has replaced the stringers. The relationship in the network both in reality and virtual world are done openly. Thus, the underground lotto business is a means of accumulation of power and influence. This is the identity of the dealer that cannot be passed on. This research provides the direction for the development of understanding about the phenomenon of the middle-class underground lotto gambling in the context of the culture of fortune seeking in the digital age. It has developed knowledge about the creation of gamblers’ communication network, which is beneficial for development of knowledge in various fields. This reflects the underground business phenomenon in Thai society. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Associate Professor Dr. Asawin Nedpogaeo as the dissertation advisor. The researcher would like to thank Associate Professor Dr. Asawin Nedpogaeo for his kind understanding, encouragement, dedication, and patience in making all the corrections that made this work complete. Associate Professor Dr. Asawin Nedpogaeo is the “number 1 140904081 super coach”, who has facilitated everything so perfectly. This study is inspired by many of the courses taken at the program. The researcher would like to thank Professor Patchanee Cheyjanya, Chairman of the Dissertation Committee, and Associate Professor NIDA E-THESIS 5911831014 dissertation / recv: 19092563 13:37:02 seq: 20 Dr. Somsuk Hinviman, External Committee Member, for their kind advice and recommendations to improve the work. The researcher would also like to thank Associate Professor Dr. Kanchana Kaewthep, for inspiration in studying Ph.D. and doing qualitative research. In addition, the researcher would like to thank Graduate School of Communication Arts and Management Innovation for endowing the necessary knowledge in particular psychological concepts that have built up the strength of students. Also, the researcher would like to thank Associate Professor Dr. Pira Chirasopone, my Master’s Degree advisor, and Assistant Professor Dr.Walee Preechapanyakul, my Bachelor’s Degree advisor, who are both ideal teachers. Special thanks is extended to the Nirantechaphat family for support in every regard. This is a priceless gift for the researcher. In addition, the researcher would like to thank seniors, friends, and juniors, who have shared experiences both in and outside of the classroom. I would like to thank everyone for the patience and kindness. Also, gratitude is given to respondents, friends, and family for all the support, follow-up, and inspiration for the work to be completed. Finally, the research would like to thank the continuous support from Nakhon Ratchasim Rajabhat University. “If underground lotto is the breath of Thais, NIDA has also given breath of academic endeavor for the researcher.” Wachirarat Nirantechaphat September 2020 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ........................................................................................... v 140904081 TABLE OF CONTENTS .............................................................................................. vi LIST OF TABLES ........................................................................................................ ix NIDA E-THESIS 5911831014 dissertation / recv: 19092563 13:37:02 seq: 20 LIST OF FIGURES ...................................................................................................... xi CHAPTER 1 GENERALITIES OF THE STUDY ........................................................ 1 1.1 Background and Research Problem Significance ................................................ 1 1.1.1 Underground Lottery and Mass Media ...................................................... 7 1.1.2 The Middle-Class and Underground Lottery ........................................... 11 1.2 Research Question ............................................................................................. 24 1.3 Research Objectives .......................................................................................... 25 1.4 Scope of Research ............................................................................................. 25 1.5 Definition of Terms ........................................................................................... 25 1.6 Significance of the Study ................................................................................... 28 CHAPTER 2 REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE AND RESEARCH FRAMEWORKS ......................................................................................................... 30 2.1 Literature Related to Underground Lottery ....................................................... 30 2.1.1 Historical Background .............................................................................. 30 2.1.2 Government Lottery ................................................................................