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Future Gaming & Hotel Services Pvt Ltd: The Election Commission uploaded the data related to electoral bonds on its website on Thursday (March 14). According to the information, 'Future Gaming', a leading lottery distributor based in Coimbatore, is giving Rs. 100,000 to political parties through electoral bonds. Has emerged as the biggest donor of Rs 1,368 crore.
According to the data, 23 companies account for half of the total value of electoral bonds purchased since April 2019. Future Gaming & Hotel Services Pvt Ltd emerged as the top buyer.
Data released by ECI shows that Rs. In about five years, more than 1,300 companies bought bonds worth Rs 12,155.51 crore. Of this, Future Gaming and Hotel Services Private Limited invested Rs. Bonds worth Rs 1,368 crore were purchased, which is Rs. It is the only company to cross the Rs 1,000 crore mark.
Company Establishment 1991 took place in
The company, registered as Future Gaming and Hotel Services Private Limited, was established in 1991. It was founded by Santiago Martin, who is known as the 'Lottery King' of India.
13 years Started lottery business at the age of
An NDTV report quoting Future's website states that Martin started the lottery business at the age of 13. In the south the company operates under a subsidiary called Martin Karnataka, while in the north-east it opened Martin Sikkim Lotteries.
of company 13 in the states 1000 has more employees than
The company claims to have more than a thousand employees in 13 states where lotteries are legal. The company operates lotteries in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Goa, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Punjab, Sikkim and West Bengal. Future is the sole distributor of 'Dear Lottery' in Nagaland and Sikkim.
The company was also registered in Tamil Nadu but in 2003, the government of then Chief Minister Jayalalitha banned lotteries and Martin shifted most of his business to Karnataka and Kerala.
Santiago Martín tried his hand in other fields as well
After his lottery success, Martin also tried his hand in real estate, construction, textiles and hospitality. He also established businesses in Myanmar, Nepal and Bhutan. According to Fuchak's website, Martin was also the Consul General of Liberia, where he also founded the lottery industry. He is also the President of the All India Federation of Lottery Trade and Allied Industries, a lobby of lottery distributors, stockists and agents.
Agencies are also investigating Future Gaming
Future Gaming and its associates are also under the scanner of investigating agencies. In October 2023, the Income Tax Department raided four locations of Martin and Future Gaming in connection with the Enforcement Directorate's investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002. The investigation revealed that Martin and his associates embezzled approximately Rs. 10,000 for prize-winning tickets between 2009 and 2010. Illegal profit of Rs 910 crore was earned.