Minister urges Centre to amend relevant laws to regulate Lotteries

Mysore, Sep 8 (UNI) Karnataka Minister for Small Savings and Lotteries Ramachandra Gowda today urged the Union government to amend the relevant laws to enable the States to regulate lotteries.

Talking to newspersons here, he said a letter to this effect has been written to the Centre. The lotteries, which had been banned in the State has surfaced again following the High Court order of lifting the ban. ''We have requested the Centre to amend the relevant laws and help the State to bring in a comprehensive legislation to regulate Lotteries,'' he added.

Mr Gowda further added that though the Supreme Court was approached to get a stay order on the High Court's lifting the ban it has not materialised. The State government was in favour of regulating not only the Online Lotteries but also the traditional lotteries. The Centre should take initiative to end the lottery menace.

Replying to a question, he said the proposal to declare Karnataka a 'Lottery Free Zone' cannot work as lotteries would continue to thrive clandestinely.

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