GLO given more time to study online lottery

The Government Lottery Office board on Tuesday gave the GLO one month to make a study of the legal aspects and social implications of the planned online lottery ticket sales.

The study must be completed by the end of July, said Sathit Limpongphan, permanent secretary of the Finance Ministry, who chaired the board meeting.

Mr Sathit said the GLO has been instructed to ask the Council of State for advice on legal points which may obstruct the sale of tickets from vending machines, and to make additional studies of the potential social effects.

The GLO must also calculate the compensation which would have to be paid to the contractor, Loxley, if the plan is aborted.

The GLO will also hold a public hearing on July 10 to take opinions on the planned launch of online lottery ticket sales, GLO director Wanchai Surakul said on Tuesday.

Mr Wanchai said members of the media, researchers, representatives of lottery vendors and disabled people would be among those giving their opinions.

A conclusion from the public hearing would be compiled by July 15. It  would be forwarded to the GLO board and the finance minister for consideration before a decision was made whether to go ahead with the online lottery.

The GLO director was firm to his opinion that online ticket sales were necessary to end the problem of overcharging by ticket vendors and to combat the underground lottery.

Mr Wanchai said the GLO would also seek advice from the Council of State on whether it was legal for lottery tickets to be printed by vending machines instead of by the GLO's own printing house as required by the GLO Act of 1974.