The Election Commission has released data related to electoral bonds on its website, www.eci.gov.in. Among the companies purchasing electoral bonds, Future Gaming stands out at the top.
The Election Commission made data regarding electoral bonds public on Thursday evening on its website www.eci.gov.in. Following the Supreme Court’s order, the State Bank of India (SBI) had released these figures on March 12.
The electoral bond data was released by the Election Commission on March 14. According to the list provided by the Election Commission, it was revealed that Future Gaming and Hotels Services Pvt. Ltd. had donated the most to political parties.
About Future Gaming and Hotels Pvt. Ltd
Future Gaming and Hotels Pvt. Ltd. is chaired by Santiago Martin. The company was established in 1991 by Santiago Martin, known as the lottery king of India. Although the company was initially founded in Tamil Nadu, after the ban on lotteries in the state, Santiago Martin shifted most of his business to Kerala and Karnataka.
Future Gaming operates in 13 states where lotteries are still legal. These states include Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Goa, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Punjab, Sikkim, and West Bengal. The company operates under the brand “Dear Lottery” and is the sole distributor. Future Gaming employs over 1,000 people.
ED Investigation on Future Gaming
Despite being India’s largest lottery company, Future Gaming has been under the radar of the Enforcement Directorate (ED). The ED has leveled several serious allegations against the company.
The ED alleges that the company illegally sells lottery tickets, and the profits earned are spent on gifts and incentives. According to ED’s investigation, Future Gaming accumulated around ₹400 crore illegally between 2014 and 2017. The ED has conducted raids in properties associated with Santiago Martin’s son-in-law in connection with a money laundering case.
Both the Enforcement Directorate and the Central Bureau of Investigation have interrogated Santiago Martin regarding cases related to money laundering.
Electoral bonds have become a subject of scrutiny, especially with the involvement of companies like Future Gaming, raising questions about transparency and ethical practices in political funding.