Southern States - Kerala-Thiruvananthapuram

Instant lottery thrives despite ban

Instant lottery continues to be a lucrative business for criminal elements. The business, which is conducted on the sly and away from the eyes of law, now lures many jobless youth, reports G. Anand.

THE ELECTRONIC high-tech online lottery kiosks which have mushroomed all over the city are no competition for the clandestine instant lottery business which continues to thrive in the down town areas despite a five-year-old Government ban.

Though banned way back in 1995, the instant lottery network continues to be a lucrative business for criminal elements in Thampanoor, East Fort, Karimadam, Karamana and Pappanamcode. Police said the network has also spread to the suburban townships of Nedumangadu, Balaramapuram and Neyyatinkara.

The lottery business, which is conducted on the sly and far away from the eyes of law, continues to lure jobless youth, Government employees, labourers and autorickshaw drivers often end up losing their hard-earned money to those who run the illegal racket.

Instant lottery tickets are priced at the range of Rs. 10 to Rs. 500. The prizes range from Rs.100 to Rs. 5,000 or more. Those who run the lottery mingle with crowds at bus stands and busy junctions coaxing them to try their luck.

The racketeers employ their own touts as decoys to convince customers that the possibility of winning prices is very high. Many fall into the trap and stake their money in the game.

The prize ticket numbers are printed in a calendar which is kept with the agent. The number on the ticket is covered with a thin foil or a mixture of wax and black powder which can be removed by the buyer on scratching the surface.

The ticket buyer can claim his prize immediately from the lottery agent if the number of his ticket matches any of the figures in the calendar kept with the agent. With no Government control on the conduct of instant lotteries, the lottery operators manipulate the calendar to their advantage and to avoid giving away huge prizes.

Instant lottery venues are always hot-spots for fights between criminal elements. Arguments over conduct of the lottery often end up in serious fisti-cuffs and street battles. The lottery operators keep goonda elements on their payroll to coerce and intimidate clients who have lost the game to part with their valuables to make up for the debt they have incurred.

Sources said that after dusk, instant lottery assumes the proportion of wayside casinos with ganja and hooch peddlers pushing their stuff to the players who are hooked onto the game.

However, complaints regarding the conduct of instant lotteries rarely reach the police.

Those who indulge in the game are reluctant to approach the police with their woes.

The elusive manner in which the game is conducted makes it difficult for police to initiate a crack down. Very little time is required to pack up the game and shift to another point.

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