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 affect earnings of Sports Toto Bhd less than was expected. Hong Leong Investment Bank Research said it wasn't too concerned because special draws usually have lower sales and frequently will eat away at sales from regular draws. Lotteries in India The lottery industry contributes a significant amount to the State budgets. It is also a very popular form of entertainment in India's expanding, mobile-savvy, and tech-savvy population. This segment is hampered by a number structural barriers which prevent it from expanding. These issues could be solved by addressing taxation issues and promoting mass digitalization. The legal position of the state on lotteries vary from allowing them to banning completely. Some states have a more permissive stance, but most are more strict with regards to ticket prices as well as technology, jackpot size and public image. These constraints affect the success of both government-run and private lotteries. Regardless, their popularity persists because of their low-cost tickets and widespread availability, granting them an advantage over illegal gambling operations and offshore operators. As the digital boom transforms other areas of the economy, it's highly likely that the lottery industry will follow suit. Digitization will not only facilitate new ways to play and win, but will also allow Indian players to purchase tickets. This will impact the offline, parallel lottery aspect, where a large number of buyers are still used to purchasing tickets in person at local sales points. In the past, the absence of a national digital infrastructure and high cost of internet access hindered the development of the lottery business in India. Today there are 750 million Indians have access to affordable internet access, which has increased their purchasing power and ease of use. The result is expected to result in a change in the structure of the market, with offline and online segments interacting side-by-side. Lottery players can now purchase tickets online, and play at any time within the United States. The Consumer Protection Act also provides an legal framework for settling complaints regarding deceptive advertising and other business practices. This guarantees that lottery participants aren't victimized by unscrupulous operators. While the majority of lotteries approved by the State are run by central government officials There are a few States have licensed private companies independent of the government to conduct their drawings. Private lotteries can be more flexible in their ticket prices, jackpot sizes and other parameters. They could also be more appealing to foreign investors. They can also avoid restrictions imposed by state-level legislation such as the prohibition on cross-State sale. Playwin, an affiliate of the Essel Group, is licensed to run the Sikkim State Lottery. The company was facing financial challenges after the introduction of GST. This resulted in an increase in ticket sales. The company is now facing insolvency procedures. Despite the risk, private lotteries continue to be popular in India particularly among younger players. They can be played on smartphones, computers, and even televisions. The payouts are typically higher than regular lotteries. Many consumers are concerned about the safety and security that these platforms provide. They are also worried about the risk of their personal data being exposed. The government is working hard to address these concerns via new regulations and responsible gaming. https://to-topia.com/ can help by reporting any suspicious activity to the authorities.