Fantasy of sudden wealth by Dear lottery
Dreams of striking gold in a flash haunt everyone’s sleep. The hard reality is that just one can hit the jackpot, while many others buy lottery tickets for the same draw. Some poor people buy lottery tickets regularly and keep a portion of their hard-earned money to turn their luck. The exacerbating financial distress not only dismays them, but also castes a terrible impact in the livelihood of their families. The Reports also reveal that they become so addicted that they even take loans from their friends. The fantasy of sudden wealth keeps on bewitching them, but their desperation gives birth to another set of unnecessary problems. Dear Lottery has spread all over West Bengal.
Impact of Dear Lottery in rural Bengal
Multiple recent reports suggest that dear lottery is seriously telling upon the socio-economic condition of rural West Bengal as it fosters gambling addiction among vulnerable, low-income households. Investigations reveal that lottery-related scams also point to widespread corruption; which are good enough to exploit and cause further damages the rural communities.
A lottery ticket seller confirmed that most of his primary customers had been the poor and financially struggling classes; whereas rich seldom buys lottery tickets. Such tendency indicate the desperation of the poor section for sudden wealth.
Even the beedi labors keep a portion of their meagre daily earnings as a budget for buying lottery tickets for chasing the dream of overnight opulence. Such daily expenses becomes and extravaganza in their lives while leading to substantial financial losses and deepening poverty. Some low-income families treat Lottery as a staircase to improve their economic situation. The reports reveal that the tantalizing dream of striking it rich tempts all, while leading to addiction and financial distress.
The growing addiction to lotteries has been increasingly associated with a surge in suicide cases across West Bengal; reflecting a deepening mental health crisis driven by financial distress and emotional despair.
Addiction coupled with financial stress caused by gambling can lead to significant family and social tensions. The report reveals that In May 2025, a daily wage laborer from Shantipur in West Bengal’s Nadia district vanished overnight after a ₹1 crore lottery win, leaving behind an elderly mother. There is a previous instance, where the son of a man who won a ₹26 lakh lottery was kidnapped and murdered. Many lottery winners fear being besieged by requests for financial help from relatives, friends, and strangers.
Lottery Scam
Like most other chapters in West Bengal, even the lottery has become scam-ridden. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) Investigations and accusations from political leaders suggest that lotteries are used for large-scale financial fraud and money laundering in the state. Recent probes have uncovered fake lottery winners who received only a fraction of the prize money.
Some reports reveal that lottery the frauds buy tickets in the name of some neighbor and if they win, they can keep only a small portion, but has to pay the lion’s share to the fraud. This has become a new way of money laundering.
Ambiguous governmental response has complicated the situation further. West Bengal government established a regulatory framework in 2011 to collect revenue and partially curb excessive daily lotteries. It is the same Government that has allowed the lottery sellers to sale tickets. One can find Dear Lottery counters almost in every remote corners. Still, lottery-related corruption and addiction continue to be a severe problem.
Dear Lottery Beneficiaries
Interestingly, at least three significant jackpot winners of “Dear Lottery” had close links with the ruling party of the state, Trinamool Congress. The Future Gaming and Hotel Services, the distributor of Dear Lottery, had made a substantial funding in electoral bonds in elections.
In August 2022, Ruchika Gupta, the wife of Jorasanko MLA Vivek Gupta, won ₹1 crore. A month earlier, Neru Singh, the relative of TMC’s Nalhati MLA Rajendra Prasad Singh, also won ₹1 crore. Anubrata Mondal, the TMC leader in Birbhum, won Rs 1 crore in December 2021. The CBI chargesheet that Anubrata and his daughter won the Dear lottery four times between 2019 and 2021. Such news raises eyebrows of the opposition leaders and draws criticism from some of the TMC members. US has already witnessed a No Kings movement.
Conclusion
Lottery is a hobby. If one seldom buys Lottery Tickets, it does not harm. After all, everyone can dream that the luck haunts his door in one fine morning. But if it becomes an addiction, one has to be alert. The person must ensure that its not affecting the budget for the family or self.
The problem is that when hobby crosses the thin line and converts to addiction, the person remains unaware. So, it’s advisable to remain careful and take conscious decision. One can be inspired by the fellows or colleagues, but the need and want of every individual remains different. The way, if one consumes alcohol to one’s fill and get intoxicated daily, its bound to affect the health and budget. So, don’t forget to remain within limits.
Can we prohibit online gambling like Maharashtra, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh? Such decision remains pertinent, when the Lottery has already been scam-ridden.
As the issue is still persistent, its time for the lawmakers to review whether the current regulations are sufficient enough to protect vulnerable rural populations. The critics hurl abuses and describe it not only as a deliberate attempt in turning a blind eye but also condoning the same.
