Kerala State Lotteries was launched in September 1967 after the state banned private lotteries. The first ticket cost Rs 1, offering a Rs 50,000 prize, and the concept quickly expanded. Today, the state accounts for 90% of India鈥檚 total state-lottery revenue and runs seven weekly draws plus six annual bumper draws. In 1967, Kerala took a decisive step by banning all private lottery operations and launching its own state-run lottery programme. The initiative was the brainchild of then Finance Minister P. K. Kunju Sahib, who envisioned it as a way to generate employment and boost state revenues without burdening the public with additional taxes. Today, the Kerala State Lotteries Department operates under the state鈥檚 Taxes Department and has grown into a robust institution. It employs over 465 staff members across its Directorate in Thiruvananthapuram, 14 district offices, and a Regional Deputy Directorate in Ernakulam. Types of Kerala Lotteries The programme offers multiple draws across two main formats: 1. Weekly Lotteries: Kerala conducts seven weekly lotteries, each with its own name and prize structure: PournamiWin WinSthree SakthiAkshayaKarunya PlusNirmalKarunya Draws are held daily at 3:00 PM at Sree Chithira Home Auditorium, Pazhavangadi, East Fort, Thiruvananthapuram. 2. Seasonal Bumper Lotteries: Kerala also hosts high-stakes bumper lotteries during major festivals and seasons. These include: Xmas BumperSummer BumperVishu BumperMonsoon BumperThiruvonam BumperPooja Bumper Lottery results are published on the official Kerala Lotteries website keralalotteries.com, the same day as the draw. Additionally, results are also published in the Kerala Government Gazette for official recordkeeping. The Business of Kerala LotteryIn Kerala, buying a lottery ticket is not just a shot at fortune; it鈥檚 part of the state鈥檚 economic machinery. More than five decades later, it has grown into the largest state-run lottery system in India and a critical pillar of Kerala鈥檚 finances. According to the Kerala Lotteries Department, the government prints more than 1.8 crore tickets daily, indicating that one in every three residents buys a ticket each day (source: Kerala Lotteries Department pamphlet, December 2022). In the financial year 2021鈥22, the government earned Rs 7,145 crore through lotteries, generating a modest profit of Rs 560 crore, about Rs 7 of profit for every Rs 100 of revenue. By 2023鈥24, revenue surged to Rs 12,529 crore, making up nearly 25% of Kerala鈥檚 total state receipts. For comparison, alcohol excise brought in Rs 19,089 crore that year, the Kerala Budget Documents 2024鈥25 revealed. Where the Money Goes Roughly 50% of lottery turnover is paid out in prize money. The rest is allocated to agent commissions, printing costs, advertising, and salaries, leaving a thin margin for actual government profit, under 10% by most estimates. Yet, these funds play a crucial role in financing social welfare initiatives. The Karunya Benevolent Fund, a prominent state welfare program, draws heavily from lottery proceeds to support healthcare costs, palliative care, and income assistance for the poor and terminally ill. Additionally, the industry provides direct employment to around 1.5 lakh people, including sellers, distributors, and printing workers, state officials involved in the lottery business said. Agents also receive a share of the prize if the winning ticket is sold by them, an incentive that strengthens the supply chain. The Criticism: A Tax on the Poor? Despite its public utility, the lottery system is under fire from economists and activists who label it a 鈥渞egressive tax on the poor.鈥 Research shows lower-income individuals spend disproportionately more on lotteries in hopes of overnight fortune, while wealthier citizens rarely participate. The social impact of compulsive gambling, debt, and unclaimed prize money continues to raise concerns. Final Take: A Gamble That Pays 鈥 But Not for Everyone Kerala鈥檚 state lottery is a complex policy instrument. It鈥檚 legally sanctioned, financially massive, and socially embedded. It creates jobs and funds healthcare. But it also walks a fine ethical line, with slim margins and potentially exploitative consequences. As the state pushes toward a Rs 10,000 crore+ turnover future, the system remains a balancing act between hope and harm, public finance and personal loss. Whether it鈥檚 a visionary model or a troubling addiction disguised as statecraft is a question that still divides public opinion.