Sports Toto's Special Draw Will Be Less Than Expected
PETALING JAYA (Dec 6) The government's decision to cut special draws by number forecast operators (NFO) to eight per year instead of 22 is likely to impact the earnings of Sports Toto Bhd less than expected. Hong Leong Investment Bank Research said it was not overly concerned as special draws typically have lower sales and frequently cannibalise sales from normal draws.
Lotteries in India
The lottery sector contributes a sizable amount to the State budgets. It is also a popular form of entertainment for India's rapidly growing, tech-savvy and mobile-savvy population. This market is hampered by a number structural barriers that hinder its growth. The fine-tuning of taxation issues and pushing for mass digitization could be a significant step towards solving these problems.
The legal position of the state regarding lotteries range from allowing them to banning completely. Some states have a more permissive stance, but most are stricter in terms of ticket prices and technology and jackpot size, as well as public image. These restrictions affect the effectiveness of lotteries run by government and private lotteries. Their popularity continues to increase despite the fact that tickets are cheap and widely accessible, giving them an edge over illegal gambling operations or offshore operators.
The lottery industry is likely to follow the digital revolution, which has transformed all other sectors of the economy. Alongside facilitating 안전놀이터 of play, digitization will also make the process of purchasing tickets faster and more efficient for Indian players. This will impact the lottery that is played offline, where many players still have to purchasing tickets at local sales points.
In the past, India's lottery industry was hindered by the high cost of internet access as well as the lack of a digital infrastructure. Today there are more than 750 million Indians have access to low-cost internet services, increasing their purchasing power and ease of use. The result is likely to see a shift in the market's structure, with offline and online segments coexisting side by side.
Lottery players will be able to purchase tickets online and to play anywhere in the country. The Consumer Protection Act also provides an legal framework for settling complaints about misleading advertisements and other business practices. This ensures that lottery players won't be exploited by untrustworthy operators.
While the majority of lotteries are run by the central government, a small number of states have licensed private companies to conduct their draws. Private lotteries are more flexible in way they price tickets, jackpot sizes, and other aspects, and may be more attractive to investors from overseas. They also are able to stay clear of restrictions enforced by state-level legislation such as the prohibition of cross-State sales.
One notable case involves the Essel Group's Playwin licensed to run the Sikkim state lottery. The company was plagued by financial difficulties after the introduction of GST, which caused a drop in ticket sales. The company is currently facing insolvency legal proceedings. Despite the risk, private lotteries continue to be popular in India especially among the younger generations. They can be played from mobile devices, computer browsers, and TVs and the prizes are generally higher than those of regular lotteries. Many players are concerned about the safety and security provided by these platforms. They are also concerned about the risk of exposing personal data. The government is trying to solve these issues by creating new regulations and encouraging responsible gaming. Reporting any suspicious activity can assist the public.