The West Bengal government is planning to revive state-run lottery services, including the now-defunct "Bangalakshmi" scheme, aiming to increase state revenue and introduce greater transparency in lottery operations. Sources in the administration said the state finance department has begun preparations to float tenders for operating the lottery services, with the government aiming to launch the new system from the next financial year. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari reportedly directed officials to expedite the process.
New Avatar for State Lottery
"The state lottery may be back in a new avatar. The new state government is planning to reintroduce state lottery soon. It was discontinued in March 2020 after GST slab revisions," sources said, adding that the state budget to be tabled in the Assembly on June 22 may include specific proposals in this regard.
Past Revenue Losses
For several years, lottery services in the state were operated through distributors who obtained No Objection Certificates (NOCs) from agencies based outside Bengal. According to sources, this arrangement led to substantial revenue losses for the state's exchequer. During the regime of the Left Front government, lottery services were managed directly by the finance department. However, a few years after Trinamool Congress came to office in 2011, the finance department gradually withdrew from operating the lottery system.
Focus on Transparency
The new administration is now focusing on ensuring transparency and accountability in the process. According to sources, the chief minister instructed senior officials to ensure that unsold tickets are not included in lottery draws, a move aimed at preventing manipulation and restoring public trust in the system.
Current Lottery Operations
Currently, only the Dear lottery is distributed by a private operator, Santiago Martin. The lottery attracts a GST of 40%. Sources close to the development said that the total revenue from GST collection on lottery in the state would be around Rs 5,000 crore, out of which the state's share (SGST) will be Rs 2,500 crore. In 2009-10, the state government had earned a revenue of around Rs 2,000 crore from lottery services.
