Task force to deal with betting over Kerala Lottery results

Thiruvananthapuram: Finance Minister T. M. Thomas Isaac told the Assembly on Friday that a high level task force had been formed to deal with ‘Ezuthu Lottery’, a form of betting based on last digits of Kerala State lottery results.

Responding to a notice for moving an adjournment motion on the topic given by V. D. Satheesan and others, the Minister said that an increasing number of cases were being registered as the ‘lottery’ seemed to be spreading, especially in the Malabar region. The cyber police were monitoring online lotteries.

Dr. Isaac said that the betting was addictive and wrecked families. The revenues from Kerala Lottery had been hit.

He said that live telecasting of State lotteries could be introduced to address the complaints that the results were reaching speculators before they were published on official Website. If any agent of State lotteries were found to be involved in betting on results, their agency would be cancelled.

Mr. Satheesan said that the organisers of the ‘ezhuthu lottery’ had a large network with agents, bank accounts and mobile application software. Santiago Martin was said to be behind it. CPI (M) leaders had links to him.

He said that the prize structure of State lottery should be restructured to make them more attractive.

Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala asked why Martin was returning when the LDF come to power.

In view of explanation of the Minister, Speaker P. Sreeramakrishnan refused permission to move the motion.  Mr. Chennithala said that the UDF was not staging a walk-out as the government had appointed a task force to deal with the issue.