Lotteries Board to stop Rapido online lottery

by Hiran H. Senewiratne

The National Lotteries Board (NLB), which operated the Rapido online lottery is planning to stop the ticket soon.

The NLB pumped Rs 700 million to import 500 online lottery operating machines to the country but has only imported 250 such machines to the country, NLB Director H. G. Sirisena said. He said that this online daily Rapido lottery is not popular among the people. Therefore NLB has borne the loss from this venture. Sirisena said that they are targeting a revenue of Rs 7 billion with the introduction of new development plans this year.

He said that last year it has achieved a total revenue of Rs 6.5 billion which is one of the top revenue providers to government coffers.

NLB at present sells Govi Setha, Mahajana Sampatha, Vasana Sampatha, Shrama Vasana, Hopsital ticket and Colombo Airport Super Draw. It also has a scratch ticket "Samurdhi" as well.

Sirisena said that during the 42 years of existence, NLB gets the highest government patronage due to being one of the few government entities which provides the highest revenue to the government. NLB is now planning to introduce a new lottery to the market and the profits will be used for the development of the country's transport system, he said.

According to the NLB, 47 per cent of the income is spent on prizes, 18 per cent goes to the Consolidated Fund, 15 per cent goes to agents as commissions and the balance retained as revenue for the NLB.

Today more than 60,000 families depend on the lottery business.