Thiruvananthapuram: With only six days left for the Onam Bumper 2025 draw, ticket sales have crossed 70 lakh. The lucky draw will be held at 3 pm on September 27, and agents can sell tickets until 2 pm on the same day.

From Monday, the GST on lottery tickets will increase from 28 per cent to 40 per cent. It is learnt that demand for tickets has risen amid concerns over the revised rate. As the new GST rate comes into effect on Monday, agents can purchase tickets from district and sub-district offices only until Sunday.

Of the 75 lakh tickets printed so far, about 72 lakh have already reached the market through agents. To ensure the remaining stock is sold, lottery district and sub-district offices will remain open on Sunday, despite it being a holiday.

Tickets released to the market before the new GST rate takes effect can be sold until 2 pm on September 27, the day of the draw. However, agents doubt whether tickets will last until then. According to sellers, Palakkad is leading in sales, with 13.66 lakh tickets sold from the district alone.

Normally, once tickets are sold out, the lottery department prints and releases more into the market. But this time, no extra printing will be done. This means the existing stock is expected to sell out two to three days before the draw.

Agents advise buyers not to wait until the last day but to purchase tickets in advance.

In 2024, a total of 71.43 lakh tickets were sold, but this year’s Onam Bumper is expected to set a new record. The first prize is ₹25 crore, with each ticket priced at ₹500. Altogether, the prize pool amounts to ₹140 crore.