The Delhi Commonwealth Secretariat has quietly launched a special online lottery series hoping to raise over Rs 500 crore to fund the Games. The lottery, or raffle series, launched last week in 12 states, will continue for the next 23 months, said a top official, requesting anonymity. The top prizes could include luxury cars such as Mercedes, gold coins and cash prizes.
Lottery is a state subject, and some states have banned the practice. The CWG panel has written to these states requesting them to make a one-time exception, said another official. “It’s for a good cause,” he said, asking not to be named.
The CWG New Delhi is expected to cost nearly Rs 1,300 crore and is to be funded by a variety of sources including government grants, sponsorships and broadcasting rights. “The idea of the Delhi Commonwealth Raffle took time to implement as several state governments have put a ban on lotteries. But these bans were mainly for paper lotteries of yesteryears. Online lotteries are safe and rigging-proof,” the CWG official said.
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