India is a developing nation, setting benchmarks in every field. iGambling and online lottery is not untouched by this precedented growth.
In recent developments, Indian lottery players have been able to try their luck at fully online and state-authorized online lottery tickets. The term being used for this type of lottery is ilottery. The move comes from the government and is a way to add transparency to the industry. The physical lottery landscape in India is often convicted for being tainted by claims of mismanagement or even fraudulent behaviors.
The update from the Karnataka Government
The official sales of these online lottery tickets began on the 24th of November, 2024. The first draw is scheduled for November 24.
The Directorate of Goa of Small Savings and Lotteries, the department that handles the lottery, has approved an app-based platform. This granted the Rhiti Group a license to operate it. The platform will be held by Great Goa Games and will provide the participants with a secure and convenient way to play. The rules for the online lottery are also released by the directorate.
In India, lottery games currently are legal in as many as 13 states which includes Goa. Often referred to as “the Las Vegas of India”, Goa is making the marks in the industry now. It is important to note that many states do not allow online lotteries due to poor administration or addiction.
This move can also open up gates for other online lottery games such as Lotto Tickets Online and Raja Rani lottery online.
The move can improve the condition of the Indian Lottery system
The regulated games will “set a new standard in the lottery industry,” according to Goa government chief Narayan Gad. The technology-based offering will provide better operations monitoring and regulation while also increasing transparency.
Online platforms, however, are not impervious to accusations of deception and manipulation.
MediaNama, a technology website, claims that Kerala used to have an online lottery with only one draw per week. When government officials discovered that several lotteries were running concurrently, they decided to shut them down. Kerala became an “online, internet, and computerized lotteries-free zone” with the following ban.
In a similar vein, Maharashtra police discovered proof that online lottery providers and government representatives were planning to conduct several lotteries in one day.
Justices pointed out that ticket terminals were susceptible to modification in a 2015 Supreme Court decision that maintained the Kerala prohibition. Players were therefore unable to confirm that the server from which their tickets were issued was authentic.
Issues with the traditional lottery system
With its reliance on paper tickets and physical stores, India’s lottery industry has reportedly fallen behind the times, according to a 2024 white paper published by the non-profit think group Pahle India Foundation (PIF).
According to the report, “paper-based lotteries are prone to issues such as defective or fake tickets being sold, tickets being lost during transportation, and the difficult and arduous task of maintaining records of tickets (sold, unsold, and defective).” “Managing large volumes of transactions presents a significant logistical challenge that jeopardizes integrity and compliance and may result in corruption.”
Furthermore, India has been dubbed “the next Silicon Valley” by the World Economic Forum. According to PIF, low-tech gaming apps don’t fit in with the nation’s high-tech lifestyle.
The emphasis on paper-based lotteries “indicates that the lottery industry in India does not sufficiently capitalize on the increasing availability of smartphones and low-cost internet.” In terms of transparency, efficiency, compliance, and improved player protection, the industry “has yet to be aligned with [Digital India’s] vision.”
The future
According to PIF, Indian lottery revenue is $33 billion (£26 billion/€31 billion) a year, with $12 billion in possible taxes.
According to Hans India, the Great Goa Games will place a strong emphasis on responsible gaming by providing participants with instructional materials that encourage safe play. Furthermore, the online lottery would provide operational transparency by enabling users to monitor the allocation of lottery earnings, specifically towards financing social projects like as healthcare and education.
