If reports in a section of the national media are to be believed, the Andhra Pradesh government, led by Telugu Desam Party president and Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, is likely to permit state lotteries and online gaming as a means to boost revenue for the state exchequer.
According to these reports, proposals for allowing state lotteries and online gaming have already been circulated among the relevant departments by the Department of Finance, and Naidu is expected to make a decision “very soon.”
The reports also indicate that legal consultation is required regarding the proposed taxation on lotteries and online gaming, as Andhra Pradesh currently has a ban on lotteries.
“Multiple approaches are being explored to generate revenue from these sectors,” an official stated.
It is estimated that a tax on state lotteries could generate up to ₹3,000 crore in revenue. Additionally, the government is considering increasing the entertainment tax to raise ₹2,300 crore and imposing additional VAT on liquor.
Currently, both state lotteries and online gaming are banned in Andhra Pradesh, but the government may soon lift these restrictions to create new revenue streams through legalization and taxation.
