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The Maharashtra government is considering expanding lottery operations in the state to shore up its revenue. Under the proposal being considered by the state government, the lottery ticket money of the purchaser will not be forfeited if the person doesn’t win but will be deposited with the state government, which will repay the amount after three or five years to the person with interest.
“I am studying a model under which if a person does not win the lottery money after buying a ticket, the money will stand deposited with the state government and it will be repaid after three or five years to that person with interest. It will be a win-win situation for all and also the taboo of lottery being a gamble can be wiped off,” said former state finance minister and BJP MLA Sudhir Mungantiwar, who heads the committee to revive the loss-making state lottery sector.
The committee recently studied the Kerala model and is set to submit its report within the next two months. The all-party committee was formed in April 2025 to suggest measures to increase revenue from lottery sector. The committee will submit its report to the Finance department, based on which further course of action will be decided.
Among other measures it is likely to suggest include the use of thousands of ATM machines for purchasing lottery ticket with safety protocols in place.
The committee is unlikely to recommend in favour of online lottery and is studying models which turn lottery into a mode of investment. “The first aim of the committee is to suggest measures to increase the state revenue. But while doing so, the increased revenue should be diverted to productive sectors eyeing the future. Our report will be directed at taking the state on the path of transformation,” said Mugantiwar, while speaking to The Indian Express.
He said the committee does not intend to turn lottery into addiction. “My submission to the committee is against making lottery business online as it may even attract children. We are not going to suggest the government what to do, instead the report will be stating the facts in front of the government which will take the final call,” said NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Patil.
According to the committee, the Kerala lottery sector’s annual turnover is around Rs 12,000 crore and profit ranges between Rs 3,000 and Rs 4,000 crore. “The money earned should not be wasted on regular expenses such as salaries or interests on loans, instead must be directly invested in productive sectors, which promise transformation of the state,” he said. Maharashtra’s struggling lottery sector’s average turnover is around Rs 30-35 crore only and the state has been looking for ways to increase the revenue.
Maharashtra State Lottery has been in existence from April 12, 1969. The state Finance department started the lottery to prevent cheating of common people by fraudsters through illegal gambling schemes like Matka. The revenue generated from the lottery sales is invested to improve infrastructure, provide health and education facilities. Besides, many unemployed people are engaged in sale of lottery tickets, providing them with full-time or part-time employment.
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