Lok Sabha Question No. 2613 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-08-02
Subject: Lotteries Regulation Rules
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: Rajendra Dhedya  Gavit

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2613

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 2 ND  AUGUST, 2022/ SRAVANA 11, 1944 (SAKA)

LOTTERIES REGULATION RULES

2613. SHRI RAJENDRA DHEDYA GAVIT:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  proposed  Lotteries  Regulation  Rules  are  not  notified  till date and no meeting has been held since 23.08.2019 to finalise the rules, if so, the reasons therefor and the likely date of notification;
- (b) the steps/action taken by the Government on complaints to stop such malpractices in trade of lotteries to save poor people;
- (c) whether as per the MHA  letter F.NoV/17034/3/2019-CSR-I dated 22.01.19 features of online and paper lotteries cannot be combined in one lottery but today paper lottery distributors of Punjab,Sikkim, Nagaland etc. and  their  associate  concerns  are  selling  paper  lottery  tickets  through websites accepting payment online and Whatsapp application on mobile; and
- (d) if so, whether the permission for sale of Paper Lotteries through online mode is given to the organizing States to allow their distributors by MHA and if not, action that shall be taken by MHA in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI NITYANAND RAI)

(a) Lotteries (Regulation) Rules, 2010 have been framed under Lotteries (Regulation)  Act,  1998  for  regulation  of  lotteries.  Amendment  in  laws  or rules requires consultation with various stakeholders, including the State Governments.  Changes in laws is an ongoing process. As such no time limit can be prescribed for the amendment to the Rules.

(b) to (d) Ministry  of  Home  Affairs  has  issued  directions  on  02.08.2011 under Section 10 of the Lotteries (Regulation) Act, 1998 stating that it is the responsibility of the State Governments to ensure compliance with the provisions  of  the  Lotteries  (Regulation)  Act,  1998  and  the  Lotteries (Regulation) Rules, 2010 in letter and spirit. Further, directions have been issued  on  18.07.2018  to  all  the  lottery  running  States  to  have  their software/hardware  used  for  online  lottery  certified  by  Standardization, Testing and Quality Certification Directorate (STQC) to ensure integrity of the  hardware/software  used  for  operation  of  online  lottery.  Thereafter, instructions have been issued on 22.01.2019 to all lottery running States that  a  lottery  combining  features  of  online  and  paper  lotteries  is  not  in accordance with the Lotteries (Regulation) Rules, 2010 and therefore, the same be stopped forthwith in case already launched by any of the lottery organizing State Governments.

Taking into cognizance the responsibility assigned to lottery organizing States under the Lotteries (Regulation) Rules, 2010, the complaints received in the Ministry are forwarded to the concerned lottery organizing States for appropriate action. Accordingly, complaints regarding selling of paper lottery through websites/mobile apps have been

referred to State Governments of Punjab, Sikkim and Nagaland. Government of Punjab has informed that they have already prohibited the sale of computerised and online lotteries and not authorized any distributor to sell the lottery tickets in online mode.  Government of Sikkim has  informed  that  the  State  is  not  aware  of  the  selling  of  paper  lottery ticket through either websites or Whatsapp  application on mobile. Government  of  Nagaland  has  informed  that  the  State  Government  has neither  given  any  permission  to  its  distributor  for  sale  of  paper  lotteries through online mode nor the distributor of Nagaland State lotteries have sold/are  selling  the  tickets  through  websites  accepting  payment  online and through Whatsapp application on mobile.

*******