Regulation of lotteries on TV channels under consideration

New Delhi, Aug 31 (UNI) The Union Home Ministry has constituted a study group to discuss modalities for making more stringent regulations to include the games of luck shown by the TV channels as part of lottery.

The Ministry's response was to a querry under Right to Information Act (RTI) posed by Mr K Pant, National General Secratary of Akhil Bhartiya Sarkari Lottery Vyapari Mahasangh. He wanted to know whether the games of luck shown on the TV channel came under the purview of laws relating to betting, gambling and lotteries.

Mr Neeraj Kansal, director of CS-II(Home Ministry) in his reply said there is a strong view of the public that lotteries should not be prohibited. However, there is a case stronger and effective regulation for lotteries.

A study group is considering the entire gamut of lotteries and to take a final view whether TV channels should be allowed to go ahead with the betting and lottery and other games of luck.

According to the Home Ministry Lotteries are of two types, lotteries organised by the Central and state governments and the private ones. The former is regulated by the Central legislation under Entry 40 of the union list and the latter by the state legislature under entry 34(betting and gambling). The Union Government cannot ban the private lotteries as they are a state subject, the Home Ministry said.

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