3-number lottery wreaks havoc on Vellore's poor

A low-profile gambling activity, reportedly based on the Kerala government’s lottery programme and witnessing a daily turnover of over Rs. 25 lakh, has wrought havoc in the lives of daily wage earners in the district who sometimes put in all their earnings into the illegal activity to try their luck out, thereby leading their families to even suffer from penury.

Such is the angst from the prevalence of this illegal activity-called moonu number cheetu (that is, three-number lottery in local parlance)-that the womenfolk here besieged the shop of one such ‘lottery’ operator in Ranipet a few days ago and held a demonstration until the police intervened and cooled tempers. However, no punitive action resulted against the perpetrators from the incident. With sources mentioning the gambling activity to be carried out by locals with links to functionaries from both the ruling and opposition parties, there is no “outside interference” in the illegal three-number lottery, thereby making it to thrive in the district. “As those affected are usually from the poorer sections of the society, there has not been much upheaval [among the public],” said a social activist on condition of anonymity.

Finding parallels with cotton betting, which was a form of gambling originally based on the daily opening and closing prices of cotton at the New York Cotton Exchange that was transmitted to the Bombay Cotton Exchange, the winning number in the moonu number cheetu gambling played out here in the district is based on the daily winning number announced by the Kerala government programme. The number, picked from the results of the Kerala lottery announced at 3 pm daily on the internet, becomes the basis on which the local winner in the moonu number cheetu here is decided. The last three digits of the winning ticket in the Kerala lottery programme is reportedly the eponymous root for ‘three-number lottery’ gambling in the district.

With an admission charge of Rs.60, the participant in the three-number lottery is then asked to choose three numbers based on those provided by the punter. A few discreet inquiries as to who gives the choice for the number in the lottery activity will ensure an immediate contact who then provides the participant with numbers to choose from. If the last three digits tally with the day’s winning ticket number announced by the Kerala government lottery, it nets the participant Rs. 35,000. If the last two digits match the neighbouring State’s winning ticket number’s last two digits, the winner gets Rs.1000, and Rs.100 if the last digit is similar to the last digit of the Kerala ticket number. Although the winners in this three-number lottery are paid on the spot after the agent, also called ‘writer’, takes a cut of 5% or 10% as ‘commission’ depending on who the winner is, sources mention of discrepancy in payment. However, the matter is “settled” later owing to the possibilities of it affecting the trade, a source said. Most agents also reportedly have close ties with local thugs to help them when needed.

With this chance for access to easy money luring those seeking a way out of their poverty, there are even cases where government employees indulge in the gambling activity when they need money urgently, the source said. “There are [even] cases of daily earners sinking in all their earnings in this lottery to earn more, resulting in their families to suffer from continued penury,” the source added.

With police officials mentioning existing laws hardly acting as a deterrent, a former official said that what helps the “trade” flourish is the meagre penalty ranging between Rs.1000 and Rs.1500 imposed on those involved.

With earnings of a minimum of Rs.500 daily, many petty shop owners, auto drivers, taxi drivers and others of their ilk help thrive the gambling activity in almost all towns in Vellore, sources revealed.

When asked how the malaise can be controlled, officials said the penalty for participating at both ends should include jail term and steep fines above Rs.10000. With cops also reportedly given hefty cuts, they inform those in the trade when raids are planned due to which the illegal activity lies low for a couple of days before surfacing again. “Usually the police, to satisfy their superiors, will arrest a few agents, who pay the meagre fine and are back in business in hours’ time,” sources said.