The inter-ministerial meeting of senior officials here later this week will seek to frame a national policy on the issue as the proposed ban would be across the country.
States are opposed to such a move as their annual turnover from lottery trade is over Rs 25,000 crore. With the traditional paper lottery on the decline, on-line lottery has become popular in several states.
While the powerful lottery lobby contends that the business earns substantial revenue for the state governments, those opposed to the trade say that the poor people get involved in it and ruin their lives.
The Lotteries (Regulation) Act, 1998 defines "Lottery" as a scheme, in whatever form and by whatever name called, for distribution of prizes by lot or chance to those persons participating by purchasing tickets.
It envisages that a State Government may organise, conduct or promote a lottery, subject to the conditions that prizes shall not be offered on any pre-announced number.or on the basis of single digit and that the State Government shall print the lottery tickets bearing the imprint and logo of the state in such manner that the authenticity of the lottery ticket is ensured.
More From This Section
It also envisages that the proceeds of the sale of lottery tickets shall be credited into the public account of the State.