News Headline
Essel launches Maha Lotto, eyes other markets
MUMBAI: Subhash Chandra’s online lottery juggernaut just gets bigger and bigger. Following the successful launch of Maharashtra’s first online lottery “Megawin Bonus Ball”, E-Cool Gaming Solutions, unveiled India’s biggest online lottery-“The Megawin Maha Lotto” on behalf of the Maharashtra Government.
The Chandra-promoted Essel Group extended its online lottery business with one more special initiative, a mega jackpot of Rs 500 million. And to stimulate gaming lovers around the country, an additional Rs 500 million as prize money for Match V, Match IV and Match III winners was also announced.
Playwin Infravest will market the Megawin Maha Lotto in all the 14 lottery-playing States of India. Playwin has a tie up with E-Cool Gaming Solutions, the licensee company for the government of of Maharashtra. Megawin Maha Lotto, by virtue of its jackpot size is the biggest online jackpot game introduced ever.
With Sikkim, Maharashtra and Karnataka under its belt Playwin is now eyeing other markets as well. Playwin has spotted a big opportunity in Chennai, says CEO Sanjay Das. Speaking to indiantelevision.com on the sidelines of today’s launch function in south Mumbai, Das said: “The Tamil Nadu government has already floated a tender and the mindset of the Tamilian is very much in sync with the lottery. The Punjab is another state, which has floated tenders. Nearly 93-94 per cent of the winnings are claimed and the rest goes back to the government.”
Declining to comment on rival plans for lottery in other states (Modis, Manipal Group and Essar are both poised to enter the fray), Das said that Playwin had already set a high standard and it would be up to the competition to reach it or create innovation for the sake of differentiation.
Das said,” Since launching nine months ago, we crossed Rs 450 crore (Rs 4.5 billion) in turnover. We expect to cross Rs 1000 crore (Rs 10 billion) within the next three months. For Megawin Maha Lotto, we have targeted Rs 2500 crore (Rs 25 billion) in the first year and out of this, Rs 250-300 crore (Rs 2.5-3 billion) will go to the Maharashtra government. As of now, we have already disbursed Rs 90 crore (Rs 900 million) to the three state governments in Sikkim, Karnataka and Maharashtra. We sell 20 million tickets every week. As of yesterday, we touched 80,00,000 winners and have given away Rs 190 crore (Rs 1.9 billion) in prize money. We have created 12 crorepatis and 900 lakhpatis, 30 per cent of whom are from Maharashtra.”
Meanwhile, to create synergy for its dedicated viewers, Zee has also announced the Zee TV Viewers Quiz Dekho Dhoom, which will take place every Sunday from 5 January. In addition to this, Zee has announced a daily show wherein viewers can win Rs 10 million on the same Megawin Maha Lotto ticket; and a weekend Sunday show where the stakes are as high as Rs 40 million.
In a 30-minute show starting at 9 pm, six questions are asked and different groups are created depending on how many right answers have been given. One person who has answered all six questions correctly gets 2 million from a lucky draw. The next person with five answers gets Rs 1.5 million and so on.
The lucky draw will take place on the channel two weeks after the questions have been asked.
An innovative TVC has been created which emphasises the number 50. It shows people going mad with excitement at the thought of moving away from a humdrum existence involving overcrowded trains and the ilk.
The tickets will be on sale from 3 January 2003 onwards and the same will be made available on all the 4,500 plus terminals of Playwin across the 14 lottery playing States.
The Megawin’s Maha Lotto game consists of a playslip, which allows its players to play upto 3 panels of games. Each game is priced at Rs 100. Each player selects 6 numbers between 1 to 61 per panel by striking them and if all the 6 selected numbers match with the numbers drawn then the player will be eligible to win the Megawin Maha Lotto Jackpot of Rs 500 million. If the player matches five of the same numbers drawn he can win Rs 2.5 million, this amount is para-mutual, which means that the amount may vary with the total number of winners and the total prize pool.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
