HP govt bets on lotteries to plug budget hole
The Tribune Editorial: In Kerala, lottery proceeds are used to fund welfare schemes, including health insurance for the poor.
Updated At : 06:43 AM Aug 02, 2025 IST
HIMACHAL Pradesh’s decision to lift the two-decade-old ban on state-run lotteries marks a pragmatic turn in fiscal policymaking. With debt piling up and revenue streams strained, the cash-starved hill state is turning to an old but proven source of income — lotteries. Though controversial, lotteries are legal and revenue-generating, as seen in states like Kerala, Maharashtra and Punjab, where lottery revenues contribute significantly to the exchequer. Kerala is projected to earn a whopping Rs 13,244 crore from ticket sales in FY25 alone while Punjab expects Rs 235 crore this fiscal.
