Online lotto sales edge closer under amendment

The cabinet has given a nod to a proposed amendment to the 1974 lottery law which will pave way for the launch of new lottery products, a source at the Government Lottery Office (GLO) said.

According to the source, the bill also allows the online sale of lottery tickets.

The move comes as the GLA strives to modernise. For instance, former GLO director Chalongrat Nakathit had proposed to the GLO board the launch of a new lottery scheme where prizes would be rolled over if no winner steps forward.

However, it was met with criticism from anti-gambling advocates who believed it would pander to people’s gambling habits.

The draft, which was approved by the cabinet on Tuesday, is now pending review by the Council of State before it is submitted to the National Legislation Assembly (NLA) for scrutiny, the source said.

Kulaya Tantitemit, spokeswoman of the Finance Ministry, said the amendment bill will enable the launch of new lottery products if the GLO decides to proceed.

She said the amendment draft also covers harsher penalties for offences involving selling overpriced tickets or selling them to underaged customers.

Those who sell overpriced tickets are subject to a one-month jail term, a fine of 10,000 baht or both, while the current law imposes a fine of 2,000 baht for the offence. Those who sell lottery tickets in education institutions or to people below 20 are also subject to a one-month jail term, a fine of 10,000 baht or both.

According to Ms Kulaya, the draft law also seeks to set up a one-billion baht fund to support education and social development projects including research work on gambling addiction and prevention.