Government lottery in India is available in these 13 States: Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Goa, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Punjab, Sikkim and West Bengal. All other States and Union Territories in the country have outlawed lottery programs. But alternatives exist.
In this article, I will cover the 13 legal government lotteries and the best online alternatives.
Although gambling in general is a criminal offence in India, the Central Government under the Lotteries (Regulation) Act 1998, authorizes all the State Governments to formulate their own laws regarding permitting or prohibiting lotteries.
Any State Government in India can promote and conduct lottery draws provided it meets the following criteria:
Leveraging this right, the aforementioned 13 Indian States have come up with their own legal government lotteries, whereas the rest of the States and Union Territories continue to maintain their stance on the ban.
The Central Government does not organize, conduct or promote any of the lotteries permitted by any of the States. However, it can interfere with a State Government’s policies if the laws are violated.
For instance, no State can exercise lottery regulations at the expense of another State’s authority to organize, conduct or promote the activity.
To give an example, if an agency or individual authorized to market and sell lottery tickets in Nagaland decides to operate in Kerala or promote the activity in that State, the Government of Kerala can move the Central Government to take necessary action. However, the latter could also cooperate and allow the promotion.
Also bear in mind that if you belong to “State A” in India, you usually cannot participate in a lottery in “State B”. Inter-state sale of tickets is usually discouraged unless stated otherwise. This is especially so if lottery has been outlawed in the State from where you are trying to buy the ticket.
For such individuals, international lotteries are available for participation. You can buy the tickets to the official draws online via concierge services or bet on the outcome of the draw. Check out these top 3 lottery sites that let you enter world lottos from the comfort of your home in India:
Let's discuss all the Government Lottery schemes available in each Indian State, their ticket prices, the authority responsible for running the draws, lottery running hours, and more.
Playing the lottery has been banned in the following Indian States and Union Territories:
Ever since government lotteries started in India, Dear Lottery has played a vital role in being an industry player. With its own lottery schemes, network of dealers, agents and stockists, the organization continues to rule the roost and create epic winners in the country.
Its operation includes the active marketing and distribution of paper tickets in States that permit the lottery. In fact, it was the first government-backed lottery company in India to telecast the dear lottery live to keep uphold fair play, transparency, credibility, and trust.
If you’ve analyzed the lottery schemes offered by the individual Indian States, you’d know Dear State Lottery offers some of the best ones with top prizes. The draws are conducted efficiently and always on time.
More than 1000 professionals working for the organization make sure the marketing and distribution are effectively done and winnings are always paid out. Dear Lottery has also invested considerably in technology; over 50 software engineers and technology pros ensure the draws happen without a glitch.
The organization is a member of Asia Pacific Lottery Association (APLA) and the World Lottery Association (WLA), which further raises the trust quotient. Lastly, Dear Lottery is not just about helping the Indian Government run lotteries and generate revenue.
Its business is geared toward economic, social, and environmental sustainability. The organization works to improve the quality of life of the local populace, create employment opportunities, promote education of the masses, spread awareness about gender equality, contribute toward eradicating hunger and poverty, protect national heritage, art, and culture, and more!
Yes, Indian State Lotteries are government-backed and legal. However, not all States in India have legalized the lottery. State lotteries are legit in 13 Indian States: Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Goa, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Punjab, Sikkim and West Bengal.
Buy a government lottery ticket in India in these 5 simple steps:
1. Check with your State Lottery Department about the available lottery schemes.
2. Choose a lottery scheme the ticket to which you can afford.
3. Visit an authorized ticket dealer or agent to buy the paper ticket.
4. Remember to write your name and address on the back of the ticket.
5. Wait for the draw date and hope for the best.
To check State Government lottery results in India, always visit the official site of the State Lottery Department where the results – both old and new – are published. Alternatively, the Department would also publish results of State lotteries in leading local dailies. Some State lotteries are even streamed live on YouTube for players to know the results as and when the draws take place.
Currently, you cannot play the government lottery in India for free. Every ticket comes for a price which can range between ₹2 to ₹500 or more. If you want to play free lottery in India, you need to visit international lotto sites that hand out discounts and tickets free of cost.
Currently, you cannot play any State Government lottery online in India. All State Lotteries are just paper lotteries. To play them, you must buy physical tickets from local vendors. No State allows the sale of government lottery tickets online. In fact, some have gone on to ban online lottery altogether.
If you want to play online lottery in India, you must visit world lotto sites. I have listed the top 3 below:
1. Lottoland
2. Lotto247
3. Lottofy
Satta Matka has deep roots nationwide in India. Even if it has been outlawed in the country, most States have illegal gambling dens running in full swing; the people associated with it are earning and feeding their families.
Although the Central Government of India has intervened time and time again and tried its best to bust such businesses, solving this problem is easier said than done. Therefore, it would not be a simple task to legalize matka gambling the way the lottery has been legalized.
Plans can quickly backfire and operations can go haywire. Nevertheless, the Central Government intends to bring in some form of system to legalize satta matka, formalize the people associated with it, and offer States more control over the trade.
The biggest lottery in India is the Thiruvonam Bumper Lottery run every year by the State Government of Kerala.
The first prize for this lottery ranges anywhere from ₹7 Crore to ₹12 Crore and the second prize from ₹1 Crore to ₹50 Lakh. The third prize is fixed at ₹10 Lakh. There is even a consolation prize of ₹5 Lakh.
The Kerala Thiruvonam Bumper Lottery takes place in the month of September on the auspicious day of Thiruvonam during the Onam festival. Tickets are usually priced at ₹200.
You cannot run a private lottery in India. Under the Lottery Regulation Act, all lottery schemes run by private parties are illegal unless approved by the Central Government.
