Lottery ticket sale concerns raised in Kerala despite record-breaking prize pledge

Kerala Bumper Lottery
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The Kerala government’s annual Onam Bumper Lottery will feature a record-breaking top prize of Rs 25 crore (£2.6m) this year but officials have expressed concerns over the high ticket prices, according to Onmanorama.

The Indian news outlet has reported that the Directorate of Kerala State Lotteries’ prize proposal has been accepted by the government, marking the first occasion it has offered a prize over Rs 12 crore (£1.27m) for a lottery ticket.

However, after deducting the 10% agency commission and 30% taxes, the take-home figure will stand at Rs 15.75 crore (£1.67m) for the September event.

Officials at the Lottery Directorate believe that the enhanced prize money on offer will increase earnings for the government, but agents are reportedly apprehensive over the likely fall in sales due to the higher price of the ticket.

During the previous three years the first prize of the Onam Lottery has amounted to Rs 12 crore, with each ticket priced at Rs 300 (£3.18).

The second prize will be worth Rs 5 crore (£530,000) and 10 tickets will be given the third prize, with each winner receiving Rs 1 crore (£106,000).

Authorities suggest as many as 90 lakh (nine million) tickets could be printed this year – in 2021, that figure stood at 54 lakh (5.4 million).