All Kerala Online Lottery Dealers Association v. State of Kerala and Ors. - (Supreme Court) (05 Nov 2015)

States have authority to lay down discriminatory paper and online lottery policies

MANU/SC/1281/2015

Civil

Hearing appeals against discrimination by the State of Kerala against online lotteries, the Supreme Court chose to interpret law in a manner “which advances the object of the Act” and held that the State was within its rights to prohibit online lotteries. The case arose out of the Kerala State Government’s orders in 2005 which purported to make the State a ‘lottery-free’ zone, later allowing sale of paper lotteries managed by the State Government, however, online and computerized lotteries continued to be prohibited. The Court noted that given the Lotteries (Regulation) Act, 1998 was introduced with the intention of suppressing mischief of lottery the State could choose to prohibit partially or wholly any lottery activity.

Relevant : B.R. Enterprises v. State of U.P. and Ors. MANU/SC/1182/1999 Section 4 Lotteries (Regulation) Act, 1998 Act

Tags : LOTTERY KERALA PAPER ONLINE PROHIBITION