After over 2 decades, cash-strapped Himachal Pradesh lifts lottery ban

The cash-strapped Himachal Pradesh Government has decided to allow the operation of lotteries in the state with an expected annual revenue between Rs 50 and Rs 100 crore.

The decision was taken by the Cabinet at its meeting held here today. Himachal Pradesh banned the sale of all types of lotteries operated by it, other states and union territories in 1999 under Sections 7, 8 and 9 of the Lotteries (Regulation) Act, 1998.

The decision assumes significance in view of the state's mounting debt burden, which has already crossed Rs 1 lakh crore. The state government is keen on generating additional revenue from mining, tourism, power and other sectors.

The Finance Department made a detailed presentation before the Cabinet on lifting the ban on lotteries in the hill state to generate additional revenue. The decision has been taken on the recommendation of the Resource Mobilisation Committee headed by Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri.

As per the presentation, Kerala earned over Rs 13,582 crore, Punjab Rs 235 crore and a small state like Sikkim about Rs 30 crore in a year. The states that are presently operating lotteries include Kerala, Goa, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, West Bengal, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Manipur, Sikkim, Nagaland and Mizoram.

The move to ban the sale of all kinds of lotteries was prompted by several instances of huge monetary losses to individuals. However, there was no ban on the sale of online lotteries as the 1998 legislation made no mention of this.