Future Gaming donated total of Rs1368 Cr of electoral bonds to various political parties
The Election Commission released information obtained from the State Bank of India (SBI) regarding electoral bonds, which permitted individuals and corporations to contribute funds to political parties. As per the data disclosed under the directives of the Supreme Court, Future Gaming, headquartered in Coimbatore, emerged as the foremost contributor of electoral bonds.
Between 21 October, 2020, and 9January, 2024, Future Gaming and Hotel Services donated a total of Rs1,368 crore via electoral bonds to various political parties.
Future gaming’s past in a nutshell
Future Gaming and Hotel Services Private Limited (earlier known as Martin Lottery Agencies Limited) is the leading player in the lottery industry of India, with a turnover of over 2 Billion USD, claims their official site.
In 1991, Santiago Martin established Future Gaming, a prominent player in the lottery industry in India. After the ban on lotteries in Tamil Nadu in 2003 by then Chief Minister Jayalalitha, Martin relocated much of his operations to Karnataka and Kerala.
Under the Future Gaming umbrella, Martin’s operations expanded across India, including subsidiaries such as Martin Karnataka in the south and Martin Sikkim Lottery in the northeast. Future Gaming became known as the master distributor of Sikkim lotteries, operating in various states where lotteries were legal, employing over 1,000 individuals.
Martin’s involvement extended beyond India; he also ventured into Liberia, where he established a lottery industry. Additionally, he held positions such as Consul General for Liberia and President of the All India Federation of Lottery Trade and Allied Industries.
However, Future Gaming faced legal challenges. In 2022, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) seized assets worth over ₹409 crore in connection with a money laundering case. The ED alleged that proceeds from lottery ticket sales were illegally diverted for gifts and incentives, with the company making illegal claims totaling around ₹400 crore between 2014 and 2017.
On March 9, 2024, the ED conducted searches at the premises of Aadhav Arjun, Martin’s son-in-law, in Tamil Nadu, as part of a money laundering investigation linked to alleged illegal sand mining. Martin himself has been under investigation by the ED in another money laundering case, stemming from a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) case related to the sale of Sikkim government lotteries.
Apart from lottery trade Martin has also explored into: Real Estate, Construction, Alternative Energy, Visual Media Entertainment, Textiles & Yarn, Hospitality, Health care and Education, Software and Technology, Banking & Micro Financing, Property Development, Agro, Steel and Sponge Iron businesses.
(inputs from multiple news dailies)
Is the lottery a game or gamble?
In the internationally acclaimed film “Gandu” by Q, the protagonist achieves success in the Bhutan State lottery in the end of the movie after enduring multiple failures. Prior to this breakthrough, the protagonist persistently requests the lottery seller for the winning number, and the seller, in turn, performs a ritual by touching the lottery ticket to the feet of Kali Mata, a revered deity, in hopes of securing victory. Which means that only God can help you in gambling not skill not people.
The misunderstanding of gaming and gambling is age long. And under the gaming umbrella gambling companies are mushrooming. But for how long?
Future gaming claims that it involved in paper lottery business with 30long year of experience (claims the official site) where the outcome is determined by chance rather than skill. Participants purchase tickets in the hope of winning a prize, but the actual result is determined randomly through a drawing or similar method. This element of uncertainty is a fundamental aspect of gambling. However, gaming involves complete skill like skill that you require to win a race.
Future gaming earlier name Martin Lottery Agencies Limited accurately reflects the company’s primary line of business, which revolves around lottery operations (online or offline). The use of the term “gaming” in the current name may not be appropriate.
It would be accurate to assert that donations made through electoral bonds to various political parties originate from the largest lottery business rather than a gaming company.
India story in gambling
Today in India only 13 states allow lottery games, while the rest have banned them. These states are Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Goa, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Punjab, Sikkim, and West Bengal.
According to Statista, the Online Gambling market in India is forecasted to reach a projected revenue of $2.90 billion in 2024. It is further anticipated that there will be a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 6.49% from 2024 to 2028, leading to a projected market volume of US$3.73 billion by 2028.
In the wake of escalating concerns surrounding the proliferation of online gambling platforms in India, regulatory bodies are intensifying efforts to curb their influence on consumers, particularly the youth and children.
The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA), acting under the purview of the Consumer Protection Act, has recently issued a comprehensive advisory aimed at prohibiting advertisements and endorsements of online gambling platforms. This move comes amidst a surge in promotional campaigns promoting such platforms, often endorsed by popular Indian personalities.
The advisory underscores the significant financial and socio-economic risks associated with online gambling, particularly concerning vulnerable segments of the population. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has previously issued multiple advisories urging television channels, digital news publishers, and OTT platforms to refrain from airing advertisements for online gambling sites and their surrogate counterparts.
The regulatory crackdown comes at a time when the distinction between gaming and gambling remains a subject of debate. While gaming typically involves skill-based activities, gambling relies predominantly on chance. The distinction is further blurred by the emergence of online platforms offering games of chance, where players stand to win prizes solely through luck, rather than skill.
Last year, amendments to taxation laws, particularly Section 115BBJ, introduced a flat tax rate of 30% on winnings from online games of chance. This move underscores the government’s recognition of the financial implications associated with online gambling and aims to mitigate potential revenue losses.
As regulatory authorities intensify their efforts to curb the influence of online gambling platforms, the broader public discourse surrounding the risks and consequences of gambling continues to evolve.
With a growing emphasis on consumer protection and responsible gaming practices, regulatory interventions are expected to shape the landscape of online gambling in India in the coming years.
