Despite increased monitoring along the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border, the illicit trade of banned Kerala lottery tickets continues unchecked in Coimbatore district. Police records for 2025 show that the Coimbatore police confiscated 37,406 illegal lottery tickets worth Rs 14.87 lakh and filed 691 cases under the Tamil Nadu Lottery Regulation Act.
Law enforcement efforts in Coimbatore led to the arrest of 723 individuals engaged in the illegal sale of Kerala lottery tickets, with a seizure of Rs 6.04 lakh in cash. The numbers indicate a significant rise compared to the previous year, with 62,791 tickets seized in 2024 along with a substantial cash amount of Rs 2.25 crore, highlighting the extensive illegal network operating across state borders.
A major crackdown occurred on December 24, 2024, when the Karumathampatti police raided the residence of Nagaraj, 42, in Balaji Nagar, leading to the confiscation of 1,900 banned Kerala lottery tickets and Rs 2 crore in cash. Nagaraj, a lottery shop cashier in Kerala, was apprehended for distributing tickets in Coimbatore and Tirupur districts.
Authorities have categorized individuals involved in the illegal lottery trade as retailers, agents, dealers, and kingpins, with a focus on targeting agents and dealers handling large volumes. Retailers are also under scrutiny, as the proximity of Coimbatore to the Kerala border facilitates the smuggling of lottery tickets, with some individuals traveling to Kerala solely for this purpose.
Special district-wide raids conducted by the police in December 2025 resulted in the seizure of 2,663 lottery tickets, Rs 26,000 in cash, and 11 mobile phones, leading to 60 cases being registered and 64 arrests made. The illegal lottery sales are particularly prevalent in border regions like Anaikatti and Meenatchipuram, as well as rural areas including Perur, Peryianaickenpalayam, and Valparai.
Instances of buyers being deceived with false promises of prize money ranging from Rs 25,000 to Rs 50,000 have been reported. Due to the prohibition of lottery ticket sales and purchases in Tamil Nadu, many victims hesitate to report such incidents to the police. Authorities are planning further targeted operations to dismantle the illegal lottery network in and around Coimbatore.
