"As a new means to fight the grey and black economies, the Hungarian government would hold draws to distribute ten times HUF 1 million a week among those who send in their receipts received for services.National gambling company Szerencsejáték Zrt. would be responsible for the technical side of the draw, local daily Népszabadság reported on Tuesday.
The chance to win HUF 1 million a week should help whiten the economy by convincing people to ask for receipts even for such services as a haircut, a facial or a tyre change, in areas where the service providers traditionally “forget" to give receipts.
The idea is not unprecedented. A similar system is/was in place in Croatia and Japan, as well.
The state would not only give away HUF 520 million a year but would also need to spend about HUF 100 million on setting up the required IT background and advertisement costs could be several times bigger than that.
The Articles of Szerencsejáték would also need to be modified, as it currently stipulates that winnings may be paid only on games, from the pool, whereas the “receipt lottery" is not gambling, as the players do not risk their money for the hoped prize.
The company did not wish to either confirm or deny the paper's information."
Source: Portfolio Online Financial Journal
08.10.2008