The web lotto should go ahead, the board of the Govt Lotto Office decided yesterday. Piyaphan : LGT has the legal right to launch project The project still wishes cabinet approval as the final step. The board's call will be despatched to the government by Finance Minister Suchart Thada-Thamrongvech. GLO manager Piyaphan Nimmanahaeminda related the GLO board decided that Loxley Gtech Technology ( LGT ) had the right to effect the project.

The threat came after the minister indicated he would scrap the net lotto project as it would inspire addiction to betting. After LGT warned of court action, Mr Suchart slid his position, announcing it was only a private remark.

GLO director Wanchai Surakul explained the issue yesterday, asserting his agency hadn't commented it might end the net lottery project. It declared only that implementation would need to comply with the law ruling the GLO. The GLO director added that LGT had altered its software to comply with the money grant under the Lottery Ticket Act. The net lottery project started in 1996 under the Banharn Silpa-archa executive with Jaco Corp , of which Loxley was a partner, winning the concession to run the project for 8 years. However, the deal was later dumped by the Chuan Leekpai executive, prompting Jaco to demand financial compensation. An settlement board backed Jaco's demand in 2k and the GLO took the argument to court. The Civil Court in 2004 recommended a judgement to award a 2.5-billion-baht compensation and interest to the firm. The case is still outstanding in the high court. The total sum will be close to 4 bill baht if the govt. Loses the final court battle. After opening a new round of bidding in 2005, LGT eventually won a contract to supply the online lotto service when Surapong Suebwonglee was a cabinet minister. It had a right to introduce the service the next year but has not been able to start the project up to this time. The firm stated that it spent a bunch of cash to get ready to install about six thousand online lotto machines countrywide.

Last week the LGT management gave the govt. 30 days to confirm the web lottery project or face legal action. The company made a claim it was paying an once a month interest of 10,000,000 baht on investment costs and it also had to pay the staff who were handling the web lottery project. If the governing body proceeds with the project, it'll earn 3 bill baht from each draw or 72 bn. baht a year, according to the firm.