Kerala’s lottery sector is witnessing a sharp decline in ticket sales, with daily sales dropping by an estimated 5 lakh to 10 lakh tickets, following the return of migrant workers to their home states.
According to information available with Gold 101.3 FM, UAE’s No.1 radio station, the downturn has affected not only the construction and hospitality sectors but also the state’s widely popular lottery industry, which has traditionally relied on strong participation from migrant workers.
Traders say the decline has become more severe over the past two months. Earlier, around 1.08 crore tickets were sold daily, with most of the printed stock regularly getting sold out. Vendors note that migrant workers were among the most active buyers, often purchasing tickets in groups of three or four and opting for multiple tickets in the same number series.
Industry stakeholders fear the situation may worsen further, with estimates suggesting that the daily drop in sales could rise to as much as 15 lakh tickets if current trends continue.
Officials and vendors also point to the impact of recent reforms introduced on May 2, 2025, which included an increase in ticket prices and a reduction in prizes below ₹5,000. While the first prize was raised from ₹60–80 lakh to ₹1 crore and initially did not affect demand significantly, sellers now report that reduced lower-tier prizes are beginning to affect consumer interest.
The Kerala lottery sector, which supports around 2 lakh sellers, 20,000 sub-agents and 10,000 agents across the state, is now closely watching market trends amid concerns over sustained decline in participation.
