How to Check the Near Prize of the First Prize

This article was translated by AI from the Thai original. If anything is unclear, the Thai original is the reference.

Checking the near prize of the first prize uses a short two-step formula: subtract 1 from the first prize number to find the preceding number, and add 1 to find the following number. Then compare the number on the lottery ticket to match all 6 digits exactly, and the ticket and the prize result must be from the same draw.

For example, suppose the first prize is `730640`

Preceding number: `730640 − 1 = 730639`
Following number: `730640 + 1 = 730641`

Therefore, the numbers to check against are `730639` and `730641` — not numbers that merely look similar, not numbers that differ by only one digit position, and not a check of only the last digits.

What is the near prize of the first prize?

The near prize of the first prize is a 6-digit lottery number whose value sits directly before and directly after the first prize number. The calculation principle is as follows:

Preceding number = First prize − 1
Following number = First prize + 1

The word "near" here refers to the value of consecutive numbers, such as `730639`, `730640`, and `730641`, which are numbers in consecutive sequence. It does not mean numbers that look similar in shape, or numbers that change by only one digit.

If the first prize number is `730640`, the ticket number `130640` is not a near prize, even though it differs by only the first digit position, because the values of the two numbers do not differ by 1 unit. On the other hand, adding or subtracting 1 can sometimes change multiple digit positions, such as `129999` plus 1 becoming `130000`, which is still considered the direct following number.

Another important condition is that all 6 digits must be compared in full, and you must make sure the ticket is from the same draw as the prize result being compared.

How to check the "near first prize" lottery numbers step by step

Step 1: Check the draw date on the ticket

Start by looking at the draw date on the ticket, then compare it with the date of the results announcement you are checking. Do not check only the numbers while skipping the draw details, because even if the numbers match, if it is a ticket from a different draw, the result from that draw cannot be used to make the determination.

You should read the date completely — day, month, and year. If checking from an announcement image or a results page, check the header or the section that indicates the draw before looking at the numbers every time.

Step 2: Read the first prize number completely, all 6 digits

Extract the first prize number in full, in order, all 6 digits. Do not mix the set numbers, barcode, or other information on the ticket with the number used for checking.

If the number begins with zero, the leading zero must be written as well, for example `012340` should not be written as `12340`, because checking a lottery ticket must always view the number in a 6-digit format. Writing the number in separated groups, such as `012 | 340`, may help reduce the chance of misreading, but when comparing, it must be read back together as `012340`.

Step 3: Find the preceding number and the following number

Take the first prize number and calculate it twice: subtract 1 and add 1.

Hypothetical example:

`730640 − 1 = 730639`

`730640 + 1 = 730641`

If it ends in zero, subtracting 1 may require borrowing from the preceding digit, for example:

`450000 − 1 = 449999`

If it ends in several 9s, adding 1 may require carrying over to the digit on the left, for example:

`129999 + 1 = 130000`

Even though the result changes in multiple positions at once, it is still the preceding number or the following number, because the total value differs from the original number by only 1 unit.

Step 4: Compare with the number on the ticket for all 6 digits

Take both results and compare them with the number on the ticket from left to right, digit by digit. If the ticket matches either the preceding number or the following number completely in all 6 digits, it then qualifies as a "near first prize" number.

It does not need to match both numbers, because one ticket number is compared against each of the two neighboring numbers separately. But if it matches only in some digits, has digits in swapped positions, or has a value that differs from the first prize by more than 1, it is not a neighboring number.

Step 5: Confirm the result from official sources

After checking the "near first prize" lottery numbers yourself, you should double-check against the announcement from the Government Lottery Office, confirming the draw date, the first prize number, the prize category, and related details.

A results-checking website can help with preliminary calculation and checking, but before taking any action regarding claiming a prize, you should rely primarily on information from the official results announcement source.

Example table of adjacent-number calculation

All numbers in this table are hypothetical examples to explain the calculation method, not the results of the current draw.

1st Prize	Minus 1	Plus 1	Points to note
`730640`	`730639`	`730641`	General case
`450000`	`449999`	`450001`	Subtracting 1 requires borrowing across multiple digits
`129999`	`129998`	`130000`	Adding 1 requires carrying across multiple digits
`012340`	`012339`	`012341`	Leading zero must be preserved

The key point is to always view every number as a 6-digit number. Do not drop the leading zero, and do not judge by how many digit positions change, because borrowing or carrying can cause several digits to change at once.

For cases where the 1st prize is near the edge of the range, such as `000000` or `999999`, do not assume the number wraps around to the other side. Check the adjacent prize numbers and the rules for that draw directly from the official announcement.

Examples of numbers that are and are not adjacent prizes

Suppose the 1st prize is `730640`, the preceding number is `730639`, and the following number is `730641`.

Examples that qualify

`730639` qualifies, because it is 1 unit less than `730640`.
`730641` qualifies, because it is 1 unit more than `730640`.

Both cases must be from a lottery ticket of the same draw as the prize result being checked, and the number must match in every digit.

Examples that do not qualify

`730630` does not qualify, because it differs from the 1st prize by 10 units.
`730649` does not qualify, because it is not 1 unit away.
`730604` does not qualify, because it is a rearrangement of digit positions.
`130640` does not qualify; although it looks like only one position differs, the numeric value does not differ by 1.
A ticket with matching numbers but from a different draw cannot use the result of the draw currently being checked.

An easy sentence to remember: an adjacent prize looks at whether "the numeric value differs by 1," not whether "one digit differs."

How are the proximity prizes different from the first three digits and last three digits?

Each prize category uses a different part of the number and a different comparison method, so the checking principles should not be mixed together.

Prize category	Part of the number used for checking	Comparison method
Proximity prizes for the first prize	Full 6-digit lottery number	Compare against the first prize number minus 1 or plus 1
First three digits	First 3 digits	Compare against the announced first three digits
Last three digits	Last 3 digits	Compare against the announced last three digits
Last two digits	Last 2 digits	Compare against the announced last two digits

For example, reading the first prize result to find the proximity prizes requires using the full 6-digit number, then calculating the preceding and following values. Checking the last digits, on the other hand, involves taking only the final positions according to the prize category and comparing them directly against the announced number.

Therefore, having some of the last digits match the first prize does not automatically make a ticket a proximity prize winner.

Common mistakes when checking proximity prizes

Most mistakes usually come from misinterpreting the word "proximity" or rushing to check without clearly separating the information on the ticket. Examples to watch out for include:

Looking only at the last digits instead of comparing the full 6-digit number
Assuming that a number differing by one position is a proximity number
Swapping the order of the digits and thinking it is still a proximity number
Making a mistake subtracting or adding 1 when there is borrowing or carrying across multiple digits
Dropping the leading zero, leaving the number with fewer than 6 digits
Checking the correct number but selecting the result from the wrong draw
Mixing in a batch number, barcode, or other information together with the lottery number
Relying on images shared around without verifying them against the official announcement
Seeing a number similar to the first prize and concluding the result before actually calculating

The way to reduce mistakes is to clearly write down the first prize number, calculate minus 1 and plus 1 separately, and then compare the results digit by digit without relying on visual estimation.

Checklist to double-check before cashing in a lottery ticket

Use this list to review once more before concluding the result.

[ ] The date on the ticket matches the announced draw
[ ] The 1st prize number has been read in full, all 6 digits
[ ] The 1st prize number minus 1 has been calculated
[ ] The 1st prize number plus 1 has been calculated
[ ] The number on the ticket has been compared in full, all 6 digits
[ ] Leading zeros have been kept in full
[ ] No other number set or unrelated data has been mixed in
[ ] The result has been confirmed from the Government Lottery Office
[ ] Other prize types have been checked using each type's own method separately
[ ] If it is a boundary-number case, the official criteria have been checked

Frequently asked questions

How should the near-1st-prize number be compared?

Take the 6-digit 1st prize number, subtract 1 and add 1, then compare the number on the ticket with both results. The ticket must match either number in full, in every digit, and it must be a ticket from the same draw as the announced result.

If the 1st prize is 730640, what are the near numbers?

If `730640` is used as a hypothetical example, the preceding number is `730639` and the next number is `730641`, because both numbers differ from `730640` by only 1 unit.

Must the near-1st-prize number match all 6 digits?

Yes, it must match all 6 digits in full — not just checking the front digits, the back digits, or looking at how many positions differ. Even if two number sets differ in only one position, if the total value does not differ by 1, it is not a near-1st-prize-winning number.

How is the near-1st-prize number counted when there is carrying or borrowing of digits?

Calculate it according to the normal integer value. For example, `450000 − 1` equals `449999`, and `129999 + 1` equals `130000`. Even though several digits change at once, the result still differs from the starting number by only 1 unit.

How does the near-1st-prize number differ from the front-3-digits and back-3-digits prizes?

The near-1st-prize-winning number uses the full 6-digit ticket number and is calculated from the 1st prize number by subtracting 1 or adding 1. The front-3-digits and back-3-digits prizes, on the other hand, use only the specified positions compared directly against the announced number for that prize type.

How many near-1st-prize-winning prizes are there and how much money do they pay?

The number of prizes and the prize payout rate should be checked against the Government Lottery Office's latest prize structure every time, since this information directly concerns eligibility and payment. This article therefore does not confirm the number or rate of prizes from information that has not been most recently verified, nor does it speculate on the criteria for a case where the 1st prize number falls at a boundary.

If the number on the ticket matches a near-1st-prize number but is from a different draw, can it be used?

No. Checking must always use the ticket and the result announcement from the same draw. The draw date should therefore always be checked before comparing the numbers.

Summary

The method for checking near-number prizes adjacent to the 1st prize starts with checking that the draw date matches. Then subtract 1 and add 1 from the 1st prize number to find the preceding number and the following number. Next, compare the number on the ticket to see if it fully matches all 6 digits with either side's result, making sure to keep the leading zeros. Finally, always confirm the result with the Government Lottery Office before proceeding to claim the prize.

Checking the 4th and 5th prizes: how many digits to compare

How to Check the Near Prize of the First Prize: How to Compare Numbers