THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The State Treasury’s dependence on the State Lottery has become unmistakably clear, as the latest Comptroller and Auditor General’s (C&AG) audit report for the 2023-24 financial year identifies it as the primary source of the state’s own non-tax revenue.
The report highlights a remarkable increase in revenue generated from the lottery sector. The income has surged from ₹10,610.45 crore in the 2019-20 period to a substantial ₹14,285 crore in 2023-24. This marks a significant revenue growth of ₹3,674.55 crore in just four years, firmly cementing the lottery’s role as the state’s financial anchor.
Data suggests that the backbone of this robust revenue stream is the common man. According to various analyses, the majority of lottery tickets are purchased by ordinary citizens, underscoring their vital contribution to the state’s coffers.
The financial performance of the lottery faced a major slump during the initial years of the pandemic. In the COVID-threatened fiscal year 2020-21, the revenue dropped sharply to just ₹5,560.53 crore. However, the sector demonstrated resilience and made a strong comeback in the subsequent years:
2021-22: Revenue rose to ₹8,135.17 crore.
2022-23: It saw a major jump to ₹13,557.61 crore.
2023-24: Revenue peaked at the current high of ₹14,285 crore.
The audit report firmly establishes that in the post-pandemic recovery, the State Lottery has not just recovered but has become the undisputed primary driver of the state’s non-tax revenue growth, providing crucial support to Kerala’s fiscal health.
