Kerala’s lottery dreams nightmarish as winners pay heavy price

Lottery has a deep-rooted history in Kerala, dating back to the mid-1960s

“When I won, at first I thought it was a blessing, a miracle that would change everything for the better. But soon, it began to feel more like a curse. People I knew, and even strangers, came to me with heartbreaking stories some said they needed money for cancer treatment, others for their children’s education, or to build a house. How could I say no? But when the requests never stopped, it became unbearable. The joy of winning turned into a nightmare. I could not sleep, I was constantly worried and felt guilty for not being able to help everyone who turned up at my doorstep,” RP Manoharan, 72-years-old,  a resident of Alappuzha Kerala tells Media India Group.

Manoharan, won his first lottery in 2016, when he won the Pournami lottery, claiming a first prize of INR 6.5 million. Before this windfall, his lottery winnings had been modest, but this victory marked a turning point in his life. His luck did not stop there, in November 2017, he won again, this time bagging INR 7 million in the Nirmal lottery.

“Winning the lottery might seem like a dream, but it comes with a lot of mental pressure. The moment people hear about your winnings, the expectations and demands start pouring in. It feels like everyone suddenly needs something from you, and the weight of it all can be overwhelming,” Manoharan adds.

Lottery has a deep-rooted history in Kerala, dating back to the mid-1960s. The Kerala State Lottery Department was established in 1967, making Kerala the first state in India to introduce a government-run lottery. The initial intention was to generate revenue for public welfare and infrastructure projects. The lottery system became a significant part of the state’s financial landscape, with funds collected from the sale of lotteries, directed towards education, healthcare and various development projects. 

Over the years, the lottery evolved, introducing various schemes and attracting a broad spectrum of participants. The promise of wealth led many to partake, hoping for a life-transforming win. As the years went by, the lottery system expanded with numerous prize categories and increased ticket sales, further embedding itself into the socio-economic fabric of Kerala. 

Every day, tens of thousands of hopeful individuals purchase tickets, clinging to a thin sliver of hope that the jackpot could be theirs. And when, for a few, the hope does turn into a reality overnight, they find themselves holding a ticket to a future they could have only imagined. But as the initial euphoria fades, the challenges arrive, quickly, one after the other. 

For winners, the shock of suddenly possessing a vast sum of money can be overwhelming. Accustomed to a modest lifestyle, most are not ready for the responsibilities that come with such a windfall. Winners say that friends, family and even strangers often emerge with hands outstretched, each with their own stories of need and entitlement. The burden of managing wealth, combined with the pressure to meet the expectations of others, quickly lead to stress and anxiety. 

PR Jayapalan

“When I won the lottery in 2021, the excitement quickly turned to fear. I started receiving letters threatening me to donate money. It was terrifying, what was supposed to be a life-changing moment became a constant source of anxiety,” PR Jayapalan, 68-years-old auto driver from Tripunithura in Ernakulam district in southern Kerala, tells Media India Group.

“People from all over the state started showing up at our doorstep, asking for help. Even afters years, the calls and visits haven stopped. We had to tell them we did not have the money yet, and later, we directed them to an organisation we donated to,” Jayapalan adds.

Many lottery winners find themselves unprepared for the challenges that accompany sudden accumulation of wealth. The initial excitement of winning a substantial prize often overshadows the complexities of managing large sums of money. Without a clear strategy or financial guidance, many people easily fall into pitfalls of mismanagement and poor investment decisions.

“I know someone who won the lottery years ago, and it seemed like the world was his oyster. At first, the excitement was deep, he invested in a new business, dreaming of turning his wealth into something even greater. But reality hit hard. The business did not pan out as expected, and mismanagement of funds led him into a deep financial hole. What began as a life-changing windfall turned into a heavy burden, as the pressure of maintaining a lavish lifestyle and recovering from failed investments took its toll. The initial thrill of winning the lottery quickly dissolved into a stark reminder of how crucial it is to handle sudden wealth with care, the harsh truth is that without careful planning and management, sudden wealth can easily turn into a significant liability, leaving one grappling with challenges far greater than those faced before the win,”  Sourab Kumar, a 43-year-old tutor in Palakkad, Kerala, tells Media India Group.

According to the Kerala State Lottery Department, the government prints 18 million lottery tickets daily. With a population of approximately 35 million, this means that, on average, one in every two persons in Kerala buys a lottery ticket.

While the state government benefits greatly from the lottery system, there is limited support for winners who find themselves in over their heads. Financial counselling services are sparse and there is little guidance on how to manage sudden wealth. In many cases, winners are left to navigate their new reality alone, with no safety net to catch them when things go wrong, which often they do.