An illegal gambling racket based on the winning numbers of the National Lotteries Board (NLB) and Development Lotteries Board is causing a serious social crisis, NLB Chairman Cyril Anthony Perera has said.
He made the remarks during a meeting of the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE), where officials from both lottery boards were summoned.
Perera said the illegal gambling practice known as “Kotu Kepima” has developed into a serious problem and has reached a level of concern second only to drug abuse.
According to him, the practice began in villages around four to five years ago, with bets of approximately Rs. 100, but has since expanded significantly. In some high-income areas, the value of a single betting box has reportedly increased to as much as Rs. 100,000.
Under the illegal scheme, bettors select two numbers between 0 and 9 and place bets on the final two digits of the lottery number drawn on the relevant day.
Although the NLB and Development Lotteries Board conduct their draws at around 7.30 p.m., operators are reportedly using WhatsApp groups to run the illegal gambling operation. They are also allegedly spreading false information claiming that the monthly lottery draws are conducted in advance and released daily.
Officials said the amount wagered varies depending on the economic activity of each area. In paddy-producing areas such as Manampitiya, bets on a single number combination can reportedly reach Rs. 30,000, while in gem-mining areas such as Ratnapura, they can exceed Rs. 100,000.
Perera said the illegal gambling racket has resulted in many people losing their land and other property, leaving them in severe financial difficulty.
He also said the NLB has received repeated complaints from women whose families have been affected by their husbands’ addiction to the gambling practice.
According to the Chairman, complaints had previously been submitted to the Inspector General of Police, the State Intelligence Service and several other law enforcement agencies, but effective action has not yet been taken.
Perera warned that the continued expansion of the illegal gambling racket could threaten the financial sustainability of the country’s lottery boards while also severely affecting the livelihoods of ordinary people.
