ITV

Tag: lottery

  • Kerala government bans online lottery

    MUMBAI: The Kerala government has issued a notification banning sale of all kinds of computer and online lottery tickets in the state. The order, which comes into force with immediate effect, asserts the state as a `free zone from online and internet lotteries’.

    Prominent online lottery operators in Kerala include Essel group’s Playwin, Martin Group’s Smartwin, DhanDhanaDhan from Forbe’s group, Dhoot Entertainment Network’s V1 online lottery and Apollo International’s Lottus.

    When contacted, Playwin CEO Sanjay Das told indiantelevision.com that the company closed all its installations in the state in deference to the notification. He said the company was contemplating its next move.

    Kerala is an important market for online lottery operators. Playwin, for instance, used to collect approximately 20 per cent of its total revenue (Rs. 800 – Rs. 900 million per month) from this market. According to an industry insider, the Kerala online lottery market is valued at Rs. 500 million to Rs. 750 million approximately.

    Online lottery in the state is now banned using the 5th section of Union Lottery law. Earlier, online lottery operators had obtained a stay from the SC against a High Court Order banning the sale of other state lotteries in the state. Reportedly, the government’s decision now to ban online lottery in the state is based on expert opinion that the SC order is applicable to paper lotteries only.

    The Supreme Court had earlier pulled up Kerala government officials for remarks and taking action against on-line and paper lotteries in the state while the matter has been pending before the court and hence sub-judice. It had asked the chief secretary to present himself before the court on 17 January.
     

  • Playwin to start Maharashtra lottery on 2 Dec

    Playwin to start Maharashtra lottery on 2 Dec

    MUMBAI: The much delayed Maharashtra chapter of the Playwin saga is about to unfold finally on 2 December.

    Slated to begin earlier this quarter, after the Sikkim and Karnataka online lotteries were rolled out, the Maharashtra lottery has been branded as Megawin and Bonus Ball. According to Playwin officials, outdoor advertising has already been set in place while print and electronic advertising will be rolled out by 25 or 26 November. 

    While Saatchi&Saatchi have handled the Sikkim lottery account for Playwin, it is Ambience which will handle the Maharashtra online lottery for the company. With Maharashtra in the bag, Playwin has finished the set up for the three states for which it acquired licenses in its first phase of operations. 

    The focus, say officials, is now to organise ground events for the Maharashtra chapter of online lottery in the last half of the month. While ticket sales have ranged around Rs 150 to Rs 160 million per week thus far, officials estimate the sales to zoom upto Rs 200 to Rs 250 million once the Maharashtra lottery is in place. 

    Playwin Infravest Pvt Ltd, which has more than 3,000 lottery terminals spread over 14 states, aims to at least triple the number of terminals by next April.