Legislation to Ban Online Lotteries at Kerala

Kerala government will enact legislation to run its paper lotteries and put effective restrictions on online lotteries.

A consensus to this effect emerged at an all-party meeting convened here on Tuesday evening by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy.

The government’s recent decision to impose total ban on all lotteries, affecting the livelihood of around 3.5 lakh lottery agents and retail ticket sellers, evoked widespread criticism, even from ruling coalition partners.

After the meeting, Finance Minister Vakkom Purushothaman said the government would seek the opinion of legal experts to frame the legislation so that online lotteries could be banned. If it was not possible, then the government would impose heavy tax on online lotteries.

Leader of the Opposition V.S. Achuthanandan said the government had promised the legislation would be enacted as early as possible. Replying to the notice, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said the government had only two alternatives before it, either to allow all lotteries including online lotteries or ban all of them in the context of a Supreme Court judgment.

He said the government chose the option of banning all lotteries including those run by the state government as it did not want to allow online lotteries, which was ‘’hi-tech gambling'’.

Mr. Chandy said the government had sought legal opinion whether it could revive the state government lotteries. It was prepared to discuss with the Opposition all issues including the question of bringing in legislation in this regard.

He said the government was aware of the difficulties faced by lottery agents and vendors following the ban on lotteries and assured that steps would be taken for their rehabilitation.

The government’s blanket ban has affected all lotteries, including online lotteries, lotteries of other states and its own state lottery that fetches revenue of Rs.300 million per year to the state treasury.