The Government's assurance on a total lottery ban was made as the Lok Sabha passed a less comprehensive bill prohibiting single-digit lotteries, and regulating the conduct of other types of lotteries. The Lotteries (Regulation) Bill, 1998 replaces a lapsing ordinance.

The Bill had been scrutinised by an all-party committee, which approved it as a ``first step.' It strongly recommended that the Government should also come up with a comprehensive bill, imposing a complete ban on the entire lottery trade.

The sentiment of the House too was in favour of a total ban, which would include the multi-digit lotteries which are still run by the state governments and private parties.

Some MPs, like Samajwadi Party's Mohan Singh, suggested a new bill need not be drafted for thecomprehensive ban. He suggested an amendment in the existing bill by adding a few words, which would bring in its sweep multi-digit lotteries, would be sufficient.

Agreeing with the demand for a total ban, Home Minister L K Advani however said he was against bringing in a bill in haste. This he said would leave room for lottery-runners to seek stay orders from courts.

He said the standing committee too had discussed the issue and thought it fit to leave for later the drafting of comprehension legislation. Ruling party members also reminded that if the bill before the House was not adopted, the Ordinance would lapse and even single-digit lotteries would become legal.

Advani did not give a time frame by when the total ban bill would be introduced. But he assured, ``I would like to bring this bill at the earliest.''