The Lotteries (Regulation) Act, 1998

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS

SECTIONS

  1. Short title, extent and commencement.
  2. Definitions.
  3. Prohibition of lotteries.
  4. Conditions subject to which lotteries may be organized, etc.
  5. Prohibition of sale of ticket in a State.
  6. Prohibition of organization, etc., of lottery.
  7. Penalty.
  8. Offences to be cognizable and non-bailable.
  9. Offences by companies.
  10. Power to give directions.
  11. Power of Central Government to make rules.
  12. Power of State Government to make rules.
  13. Repeal and saving.

THE LOTTERIES (REGULATION) ACT, 1998

ACT NO. 17 OF 1998

[7th July 1998]

An Act to regulate the lotteries and to provide for matters connected therewith and incidental thereto.

BE it enacted by Parliament in the Forty-ninth Year of the Republic of India as follows:

1. Short title, extent and commencement.

(1) This Act may be called the Lotteries (Regulation) Act, 1998.

(2) It extends to the whole of India.

(3) It shall be deemed to have come into force on the 2nd day of October, 1997.

2. Definitions.

In this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context,—

  • (a) “bumper draw of a lottery” means a special draw of lottery conducted on or during any festival or other special occasion wherein the prize money offered is greater than the prize money offered in the case of other ordinary draw of lotteries;
  • (b) “lottery” means a scheme, in whatever form and by whatever name called, for distribution of prizes by lot or chance to those persons participating in the chances of a prize by purchasing tickets;
  • (c) “prescribed” means prescribed by rules made under this Act.

12. Power of State Government to make rules.

(1) The State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, make rules to carry out the provisions of this Act.

(2) In particular, and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, such rules may provide for all or any of the following matters, namely:—

  • (a) time to be fixed for claiming prize money under clause (f) of section 4;
  • (b) period to be fixed for draws of all lotteries under clause (i) of section 4; and
  • (c) any other matter which is required to be, or may be, prescribed.

(3) Every rule made by the State Government under this section shall be laid, as soon as may be after it is made, before each House of the State Legislature where it consists of two Houses, or where such Legislature consists of one House, before that House.

13. Repeal and saving.

(1) The Lotteries (Regulation) Ordinance, 1998 (Ord. 6 of 1998), is hereby repealed.

(2) Notwithstanding such repeal, anything done or any action taken under the said Ordinance, shall be deemed to have been done or taken under the corresponding provisions of this Act.