Two-decade political consensus against lotteries must be protected; fiscal reforms, not gambling, are the answer to the state’s financial crisis
New Delhi, August 26, 2026: Former Union Cabinet Minister and MP Anurag Singh Thakur has written to Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, urging the state government to immediately withdraw the Finance Department’s tender for reintroducing state-run lotteries in Himachal Pradesh. Referring to e-tender 2026_DTAL_141511_1, issued for the appointment of a sole selling agent for an online and offline lottery system, Thakur called for the proposal to be scrapped in its entirety in the larger public interest.
Anurag Thakur highlighted the rare political consensus that has kept lotteries banned in Himachal Pradesh for over two decades. He recalled that the government led by Prem Kumar Dhumal imposed the ban in 1999 after witnessing its adverse impact on employees, pensioners, labourers and youth. When lotteries returned, the Congress government led by the late Virbhadra Singh reimposed the ban in 2007. He noted that successive governments led by Virbhadra Singh, Prem Kumar Dhumal and Jai Ram Thakur continued the prohibition despite fiscal pressures, reflecting the experience and concerns of the people of the state.
Warning against the social consequences of reviving lotteries, Thakur said Himachal Pradesh had already witnessed families losing salaries, savings and pensions to lottery gambling, pushing households into financial distress. He expressed particular concern over the proposed online model, which provides for up to 12 draws every day and three bumper draws annually. Such a system, he cautioned, could take gambling directly into smartphones and homes and disproportionately impact lower- and middle-income families.
Thakur also referred to Articles 38 and 47 of the Constitution, which underline the State’s responsibility towards public welfare and protection from practices injurious to public health and well-being. He said revenue generation should not come at the cost of social welfare.
On Himachal Pradesh’s financial position, Anurag Thakur said the state’s debt had reached approximately ₹1,10,010 crore in 2026, with the debt-to-GSDP ratio exceeding 42 per cent. He argued that lotteries could not provide a meaningful or sustainable answer to this fiscal challenge. The proposed lottery is projected to generate only around ₹100 crore annually, while the experience of states such as Kerala shows that gross lottery sales can translate into significantly lower net revenue after accounting for prize payouts, commissions, advertising and administrative expenses.
Instead, Thakur suggested strengthening GST compliance and digital integration as more sustainable avenues for revenue mobilisation. He pointed out that independent estimates indicate these measures could potentially generate an additional ₹250–350 crore annually, without imposing the social costs associated with lottery gambling.
Anurag Singh Thakur urged Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu to annul the lottery tender immediately and uphold Himachal Pradesh’s long-standing political and social consensus against lotteries. He said the state needs sustainable and responsible fiscal reforms rather than short-term revenue measures that could carry significant social costs.
