Punjab Government Looks To Boost Revenue From Horse Racing & Online Lotteries

The right-wing Akali-BJP led Punjab government is one more among the few states in India that is looking towards speculative sports to boost its otherwise depleted coffers. The government has decided to go the online lotteries and horse racing route to raise funds for several development works and other liabilities. The move, second in the past few months is aimed keeping in view the Assembly Elections next year.

Currently the Punjab state earns approximately ₹105 crores from lotteries. The state tried to initiate online lotteries, but met resistance from regular lottery operators who did not welcome the idea.

A couple of months ago, the government had allowed lottery operators to increase the draws from the earlier 30 to 42, which brought in an additional ₹20 to ₹22 crores in revenue. Now the state has increased these 42 draws to 48 in hopes of drawing in more funds.

Besides lotteries, the government is also looking at horse-racing and has initiated plans to set up a racecourse in Ludhiana. A pet project of Sukhbir Badal, Deputy CM, the project aims to set up an equestrian club and racecourse for racing enthusiasts. The ₹300 crores project is being handled by the Punjab Infrastructure Development Board, which invited tender bids for the same.

US-based Stronach Group is the only operator to have responded to the bid and that too with a rider that they be allowed to check the viability of the project by running a pilot in the US for 18 months. This pilot would allow people to bet on a live feed of horseracing events and on the basis of the revenues collected from such off course betting, the Stronach Group would then determine on setting up the racecourse in Ludhiana.

The Punjab government has yet to take a decision on allowing off course racehorse betting or seeking fresh bids for the project.