By Admin 
UAE Lottery Rules: 29-year-old Indian expatriate Anil Kumar Bola, resident of Abu Dhabi, has won a huge jackpot of 10 crore dirhams. This jackpot is the biggest jackpot ever in Abu Dhabi lottery history. This lucky draw has made Anil Kumar Bola a millionaire overnight. But this raises the question whether a person living in India can legally buy UAE lottery tickets or not. So let us know.
what is the law
The rules for buying UAE lottery while in India depend on the type of lottery. Some lotteries are available globally, while some are exclusive to UAE residents. Only official residents of the UAE with a valid Emirates ID can participate in government-approved lotteries such as the UAE Lottery. However, let us tell you that some private raffles like Big Ticket Abu Dhabi and Dubai Duty Free Millennium Millionaire Draw invite participants from all over the world. Through these you can buy tickets online even without being present in UAE.
However, the situation in India is much more complex. India’s gambling and lottery laws are highly restrictive under the Public Gambling Act and the Foreign Exchange Management Act. According to the Reserve Bank of India, sending money abroad to buy lottery tickets is against the Foreign Exchange Management Act. This is why if you are in India, sending money online to buy UAE lottery tickets may be technically considered illegal.
Legal and financial risks for Indian residents
Even if a person from India is successful in participating through any international website or any third party, still claiming the winnings and bringing that amount back to the country will create legal and financial challenges. Under FEMA, any amount won from foreign lotteries cannot be brought back to India. Apart from this, the Income Tax Department also says that all global income should be declared by Indian residents. This means that any lottery winnings, even if received legally abroad, are taxable in India. In India, there is a 30% tax on lottery earnings.
Also read: After Mocha, Fani, Biparjoy, Montha is coming to wreak havoc, why are the names of cyclones so strange?