Kerala Lok Ayukta suggests measures to improve transparency in functioning of state lotteries

The Kerala Lok Ayukta has directed the state government to set up a centralized, constantly updated digital platform that will allow the general public to access key operational data in real time, including the winning numbers of lottery tickets sold by Kerala Lotteries. The platform will also provide ticket distribution across districts and branches and aggregate statistics of prize sales and payouts, enhancing transparency in the functioning of Kerala lotteries, in line with the division bench of the panel comprising Lok Ayukta N. Anilkumar and Upa Lok Ayukta Ashok Menon.

The panel also proposed the creation of a framework for ongoing statistical monitoring of lottery results. The proposals for setting up the framework and digital platform were put forward by the Department of Economics and Statistics, which conducted a statistical audit of the functioning of Kerala Lotteries to enhance transparency, accountability and continued public confidence in the system.

Indicates possible manipulation

It was suggested in the petition that the prizes of Kerala state lotteries, especially those determined by the last four digits, were concentrated in a particular series of tickets among the twelve series in which the tickets are printed. The petitioner complained that these series were repeatedly allotted to a few favored agents and this pattern appears to be continuing across the state. He found that this indicated possible manipulation in the sale of lottery tickets.

However, the auditors found no manipulation or non-randomness in the draw mechanism and the overall distribution of the drawn numbers was found to be in accordance with the principles of randomness. It was also concluded that the Kerala State Lottery system operated consistently with statistical randomness and the numbers drawn did not show any significant clustering. There was no indication of any systematic irregularities during the draw or distribution of the prizes, it was concluded.

Accepting the audit report, the Lok Ayukta asked the state government to submit a compliance report within three months on the proposals for creating a framework and setting up a digital platform.

Published – 29 Sep 2026 16:05 IST