Police crackdown on illegal lotteries in Dimapur, Chümoukedima, and Niuland districts

DIMAPUR — The office of the Commissioner of Police, Dimapur has issued a strong warning against the rampant illegal sale of lotteries in the Dimapur, Chümoukedima, and Niuland commissionerate districts.

In a press release on Tuesday, the commissioner reiterated that the Government of Nagaland has authorised only two distributors to sell lotteries within the state– M/S Future Gaming & Hotel Services Pvt. Ltd and M/S West Bengal Lottery Stockists Syndicate Pvt. Ltd– adhering to the Lotteries (Regulation) Act, 1998; the Lotteries (Regulation) 2010, and the Nagaland State Lotteries (Regulation) Rules 2022.

Any sale of lottery tickets outside these two authorised distributors is illegal and constitutes a violation of the Lottery (Regulation) Act, 1998, it said.

The Commissioner of Police further stated that strict enforcement of the law will be implemented immediately to curb the illegal sale of lotteries. The police will be taking action against individuals and parties found guilty of engaging in illegal lottery activities.

Anyone found guilty of acting as an agent, promoter, trader, or involved in the sale, distribution, or purchase of tickets from unauthorised lotteries will be charged under Section 7(3) of the Lotteries (Regulation) Act 1998, carrying a penalty of rigorous imprisonment for up to two years, a fine, or both. The offence is cognisable and non-bailable, it added.