Thiruvananthapuram: The lottery industry in Kerala has gradually picked up and got back on track after surviving through the COVID lockdown crisis.
The State Government, which operates the Kerala Lottery, is hopeful about the lottery industry’s performance in recent months. If the current boom is sustained, within three or four months, the sales will pick up and match with the pre-COVID times, the Government expects.
The business that was lost during the months of March, April and May to COVID crisis, could be picked up soon after the ‘Unlock’ began in June, which is a positive indication. Later, with each stage of ‘Unlock’, the business has improved proportionately shows the sale data.
However, the number of lottery agencies have not been affected. Most lottery sellers work as the employees of the agents. But, there has been a dip in the number lottery sellers who buy tickets directly from the lottery offices and sell them. Even the lottery sellers agree that the sales have revived after the challenging times of COVID lockdown.
Though most of the middle class and the lower-middle-class people were largely affected by the severe economic crisis during COVID lockdown, they continue to buy lottery tickets and test their luck. Experts in psychology point out that the lottery is considered a short cut to financial security and hence people are attracted to it.
The lottery industry had made the largest contribution to the State’s revenue under non-tax sections in the previous year. This year, it may not happen. Nevertheless, the State and the lottery industry are hopeful that the boom in the sales will sustain in the coming days and can make up for the losses during the lockdown period.
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