National lottery is suspended after ruling
The two- and three-digit national lottery is to be suspended until January 1 pending necessary legal amendments after the Council of State ruled that the Cabinet resolution that started the operation three years ago was illegal.
"Lottery draws scheduled on December 1 and December 16 will not include the government's two- and three-digit lotteries," Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister MR Pridiya-thorn Devakula said yesterday. According to the Council of State, the lottery is in breach of the Government Lottery Office Act of BE 2517. The act clearly states that 60 per cent of the Government Lottery Office (GLO) revenue must be issued in prizes, 12 per cent used as operating funds and agent incentives and the rest kept by the state. Yet income from the two- and three-digit lottery, which was introduced by a Cabinet resolution in 2003 in order to counter underground lotteries, was not split this way. "The Council of State has pointed out that the Cabinet resolution is not a law and can't overrule the [spending regulations of the] act. So, this Cabinet resolution is considered illegal," explained Pridiyathorn. He said the Council of State had suggested the government amend the Government Lottery Office Act of BE 2517 to allow the lottery to continue. A draft amendment to the act, which increases to 20 per cent the amount of lottery revenue that can be spent on operating costs and incentives, has already been written. The Cabinet is expected to review the draft on Tuesday. Pridiyathorn said neither the GLO nor its agents would be considered guilty for their role in operating the lottery. However, Justice Ministry Permanent Secretary Charan Phakdithanakul said some public-office holders who kick-started the lottery may be held responsible. Several buyers questioned said they didn't mind that the lottery was going to be suspended for a month because there were many other lotteries available, including the underground lottery. "I won't feel much of an impact if the government suspends its two- and three-digit lottery because I never expect to win the big jackpot," said 51-year-old Nong Khai resident Sawai Nuchit. Bua-ban Piewfuang, another lottery player, said she bought lottery tickets for recreational reasons. "If the government suspends its two- and three-digit lottery, I can turn to the underground lottery," she said. An underground lottery agent expressed hope that the suspension of the government lottery would double her sales.
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