Click to play videoBangalore: In Bangalore’s busy Balepet area, which is the lottery market, the shutters are down as retailers huddle together to discuss their uncertain future.
The lottery business in Karnataka has failed to take off despite the High Court’s three-month stay on the ban. Retailers can open shop now, but they say they don't want any false hopes.
“The government seems ready to take the case to the Supreme Court also. But in three months, we don't know what will happen,” a retailer Radhakrishna says.
However, there are some retailers who are skeptical. “We are not starting our business because if the government issues an ordinance to supersede the stay, our business will have to close down again after three months,” another retailer K K Ranganath says.
So, in a way, for thousands of people who can't go to Kaun Banega Crorepati, this was the only way to dream of quick money – banking on lady luck. But over the years, it has also become a question of jobs for one and a half lakh people and revenue of over Rs 250 crore for the state government.
But as the uncertainty continues, retailers and the government are even ready to take this battle to the Supreme Court.
“Ban is not the answer but regulation is the answer. We are requesting the government to regulate not ban it. We have already challenged it in the Supreme Court and the government of Nagaland has also filed a suit,” President, All India Federation of Gaming and Allied Industries, Dr Usman Fayaz says.
But Lotteries Minister Ramachandra Gowda has other thoughts on the issue.
“We will make an appeal, bring an amendment to existing laws or bring a new government order. Anyway, we're not allowing state government to have lotteries,” says Gowda.
So, the odds it seems aren't on the lottery sellers' side this time.
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