The Kerala government’s ban on sale of online lottery tickets has been upheld by the Supreme Court on Thursday.

“We are of the considered opinion that State of Kerala was well within its rights to prohibit the sale of online or Internet lotteries in its State and there is no fault in it. It is well within the powers conferred on it under Section 5 of the Act,” a Bench headed by Chief Justice H L Dattu said as per The New Indian Express report.

The court said that state government has the power to decide on lottery sale as it comes under legislative powers.

“It is a common case that lottery is a species of gambling. Gambling is considered as a pernicious vice by all civilised societies from time immemorial. Experience has shown that the common forms of gambling are comparatively innocuous when placed in contrast with widespread pestilence of lotteries. The former is confined to a few persons and places, but the latter infests the whole community; it enters every dwelling; it reaches every class; it preys upon the hard earnings of the poor; it plunders the ignorant and the simple,” the Bench said.

The court was deciding on the appeal filed by All Kerala Online Lottery Dealers Association, Sikkim and others questioning the state government online lottery ban in January 2005.