Bhutan Lottery Limited (BLL) launched “thuensum scratch,” an instant scratch card lottery yesterday.

A total of 200,000 scratch cards were printed. The cost of a scratch card is Nu 30.

Lottery officials said that 11,000 buyers could win prize money starting from Nu 60 to Nu 500,000 in this instant lottery card.

The scratch card is available for sale in all 20 dzongkhags through the lottery office’s nine regional sale agents.

Chief executive officer (CEO) with BLL, Phenphay R Drukpa said they wanted to do something special that gives buyers an opportunity to win instantly. “People will not have to wait for a month anymore to win,” he said at the launch.

The CEO also said that the lottery office expects the scratch cards to do good business.

Finance secretary Nim Dorji said that the lottery has done good business while providing entertainment opportunities as a means of responsible gambling to people.

“Its main objective is to develop country’s economy through revenue generation so that our country becomes self-sufficient,” he said, adding that they are also looking forward to introducing online lottery in the future.

It has been a year since BLL made its first draw with phuensum dharim, a monthly paper lottery, in November 31 last year.

Rajesh Rai | Phuentsholing