Himachal Pradesh invites bids to restart state lottery after 25-year hiatus
The government plans to issue both paper and online lottery tickets through the appointed agent and its network of agents, sub-agents and retailers.
India.- The Himachal Pradesh government has invited bids to appoint a sole selling agent as it moves to bring back a state lottery after almost 25 years. The director, treasuries, accounts and lotteries issued a 51-page tender document yesterday, inviting interested companies to submit expressions of interest.
The lottery will operate under India’s Lotteries (Regulation) Act, 1998, the Lotteries (Regulation) Rules, 2010, and the Himachal Pradesh State Lottery (Regulation) Rules, 2026, alongside applicable government guidelines. Applicants must pay a non-refundable tender fee of ₹5 lakh (US$370) and provide an earnest money deposit of ₹2 crore (US$208,957).
The selected sole selling agent will pay an annual licence fee of ₹10 crore (US$1.04m), with the amount increasing by 5 per cent each year. The agent will also pay a revenue share based on its successful bid, subject to a minimum guaranteed payment of ₹6 crore (US$626,906).
The successful bidder will also be required to establish a special purpose vehicle (SPV) dedicated to operating the lottery under the tender, government agreement and applicable laws. The government intends the lottery to issue both paper and online tickets through the appointed agent and its network of agents, sub-agents and retailers. Ticket details will include the state government’s logo, the director’s facsimile signature, ticket number, draw date and time, and maximum retail price.
The draw schedule, ticket prices and prize structures will be determined separately for each lottery scheme.
