Government lotteries in India 2024
Lotteries and other forms of gambling have a colourful history in India. While lotteries are regulated under a central umbrella, how they are managed is subject to the discretion of state governments. However, the growing popularity of lotteries saw the Lotteries (Regulation) Act of 1998 and the Lotteries (Regulation) Rules 2010 introduced, which established detailed standards for the governments to follow.
Currently, lottery games are legal in 13 Indian states, though anyone of legal gambling age in India can buy international lottery tickets online. The ticket prices and prize pools of government lotteries in India vary depending on the lottery scheme and state in which it is regulated. Tickets for weekly draws begin at modest prices like ₹2 or ₹5 and increase for bumper draws and special schemes.
Legal Indian state lotteries
Lotteries are generally prohibited in India, except for 13 states. Here’s a list of government-approved lotteries in India:
How to buy government lottery tickets in India
Buying government lottery tickets in India is possible in states where lotteries are legal. However, according to official directives, it isn't possible to purchase tickets for government lotteries in India online. Tickets can only be bought from authorised vendors in person. Here's how:
- 1Check local regulations in your state of residence to see whether they allow participation in government lotteries.
- 2Browse the various lottery schemes operational in your state.
- 3Go to the website of your preferred government lottery and check for vendors near you.
- 4Visit an authorised vendor (be sure to bring a photo ID as proof of age).
- 5Pick your numbers and purchase a lottery ticket.
Are online lotteries legal in India?
The status of online lotteries in India remains a grey area. While states have the right to regulate all forms of gambling, central directives prohibit online lotteries from being operated in the country.
However, various states in India, such as Goa and Sikkim, allow players to purchase online lottery tickets via internationally licensed online casinos. This comes with its perks, allowing Indian players access to lotteries with larger jackpot pools, a whole gamut of casino games and lucrative bonuses to boost their bankroll.
Gambling laws in India for lotteries
According to India's legal framework, each state has the right to introduce specific gambling laws and operate accordingly. However, there are some umbrella directives in place, such as the Lotteries (Regulation) Act 1998. For instance, governments must ensure prize money is credited to the bank account(s) of winners and that proceeds from lottery ticket sales are deposited into the state's consolidated fund or public account.
While lotteries are legal in 13 states, the way they’re managed differs from state to state. This has resulted in some lotteries, such as the Kerala State and Sikkim State Lotteries, being more popular than others owing to their clear and well-organised systems. It's also important to note that there's a government tax on lottery winnings. The amount won by an individual is added to their total annual income and taxed.
Types of lottery draws
You’ll come across various lottery schemes with different draws in India. Regular draws are the most prevalent, but some states run bumper draws and even special festive draws with significantly larger prize pools. Here are the two main types:
Weekly draws
Weekly draws, as the name suggests, occur once every week. As they run regularly, ticket prices cost less to buy, but the prize pools are also smaller. Ticket prices can begin at as low as ₹2, while the prize money usually sits within the region of ₹1,00,000 to ₹10,00,000.
Bumper draws
Bumper draws can occur at fixed intervals or during festive periods, such as Christmas, New Year, and monsoon season. As these are run less frequently, ticket prices are higher, but you stand a chance at winning a significantly bigger prize. Tickets often cost between ₹100 and ₹200, and prizes can range from ₹50,00,000 to ₹5,00,00,000!
Government lottery games in India
The different lottery formats in India are the weekly draws and the bumper draws. Each state lottery has different ticket prices and cash prizes for these draws, with some even running multiple schemes within each category. So, for all the curious punters, we’ve broken down the number and type of draws you can expect to find in each state at present:
| Government lottery | No. of weekly draws | No. of bumper draws |
|---|---|---|
Goa State Lottery | 4 | 2 |
Sikkim State Lottery | 16 | 1 |
Punjab State Lottery | 7 | 6 |
Kerala State Lottery | 7 | 6 |
Maharashtra State Lottery | 27 | 6 |
Mizoram State Lottery | 8 | 2 |
West Bengal State Lottery | 4 | 6 |
Arunachal Pradesh State Lottery | 21 | 4 |
Manipur State Lottery | 7 | 0 |
Meghalaya State Lottery | 7 | 0 |
Madhya Pradesh State Lottery | 0 | 0 |
Assam State Lottery | 21 | 0 |
Nagaland State Lottery | 7 | 5 |
Goa State Lottery
The gambling capital of India, Goa, is home to a state lottery with several schemes, including the Rajshree Monthly Lottery and Dear Weekly Lottery. There's several weekly draws and two bumper draws offering a top prize of over 1 crore. The Directorate of Small Savings & Lotteries regulates the lottery.
Sikkim State Lottery
Sikkim is another gambler's paradise. The Sikkim government lottery runs several weekly schemes, including the Labhlaxmi Weekly Draw, Dear 10 Weekly Draw, and a bumper scheme through marketing agents. The Directorate of Sikkim State Lotteries regulates all schemes, and ticket prices begin from ₹6.
Punjab State Lottery
The Directorate of Punjab State Lotteries runs the Punjab government lottery, hosting weekly, monthly, and bumper lottery schemes, including the Punjab State Dear 100 Monthly Lottery Scheme and Punjab State Lohri Bumper Draw. Ticket prices vary significantly depending on the scheme.
Kerala State Lottery
The Kerala government lottery is regulated by the Kerala State Lotteries, which, when established in 1967, was the first department of its kind. There are seven weekly draws, and six bumper draws operating, including the Christmas New Year Bumper Draw and Win Win Weekly.
Maharashtra State Lottery
The Maharashtra government lottery in India is known for running 25+ weekly and monthly lotteries and bumper schemes. Some of the most popular are the Maharashtra Gajlaxmi Weekly Draw and Maharashtra Ganpati Bumper Draw. Tickets can be purchased from vendors for as little as ₹10.
Mizoram State Lottery
The Institutional Finance & State Lottery Department regulates the Mizoram State Lottery. Over eight schemes are operational, including the Rajshree Everest Weekly Lottery and the Golden Tiger Weekly Lottery, the latter of which regularly pays out over ₹10,000.
West Bengal State Lottery
Lotteries within West Bengal are run by the West Bengal State Lottery Directorate. The weekly draws include the Bangasree Super Draw and the Banga Lakshmi Draw. There are also bumper draws like the Nababarsha Bumper. Tickets begin from ₹2 and go up to ₹20.
Arunachal Pradesh State Lottery
Over 20 schemes are operating in the Arunachal Pradesh government lottery, many of which are live-streamed. The Arunachal Lakshmi Lottery and the Arunachal Diamond Lottery are some of the most popular among Indians, with the latter offering a top prize of ₹50,000!
Manipur State Lottery
Manipur State Lotteries are regulated as per the Lotteries (Regulation) Act 1998. Tickets are sold only to those aged 18+ by state government-authorised dealers.
Meghalaya State Lottery
The Meghalaya State Lottery operates the Singham government lottery scheme, which is drawn at 12:35pm and 7:35pm daily. There are around 14 other weekly lotteries operational in the state at present.
Madhya Pradesh State Lottery
Madhya Pradesh has a state lottery department that oversees the operation of its lottery schemes. The ban on lotteries was lifted in the state in 2021, and schemes are in the process of being resumed, so watch this space.
Assam State Lottery
The Assam government lottery is regulated by the Directorate of State Lotteries, Assam. The government of Bodoland lottery is a popular lottery scheme in the state, although there are 20 other weekly draws that Indians can try their luck at.
Nagaland State Lottery
The government of Nagaland Lottery or Nagaland State Lottery is regulated by the Directorate of Nagaland State Lotteries. There are various popular weekly and bumper lotteries in Nagaland, such as the LabhLaxmi Lottery and Dear 100 Lottery.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
You'll find many top government lotteries within the 13 Indian states where it is legal. However, the Sikkim State Lottery is one of the best in India, offering daily, weekly, and bumper draws and top prizes ranging from ₹50,000 to ₹10 crores.
No, lotteries are not banned by the central government. It is up to each state government to decide whether to prohibit or legalise lotteries.
Yes, in India, all lottery winnings are subject to 28% income tax.
Kerala was the first to launch a state lottery in India. You can check out the Kerala State Lottery site for guidance on how to buy Kerala government lottery tickets.
Yes. However, laws vary from state to state, and as a result, some employees may be prohibited due to conflict of interest.
Currently, 13 states – West Bengal, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Madhya Pradesh, Goa, Sikkim, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Manipur, Punjab, Kerala, and Maharashtra – have legalised lotteries.
Yes, in states that permit online gambling at internationally licensed casinos, it is legal to play Mega Millions in India.
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Vedic astrology (known as Jyotish in Sanskrit) is the practice of studying planetary positions, celestial influences, and karmic patterns to understand how these influence and shape human lives and destinies.
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Planetary configurations
"Muhurtha", an essential principle of Vedic astrology, indicates the opportune time to partake in certain activities based on planetary configurations. It also highlights when best to avoid certain activities. So, in the case of gambling, a player would wait for a favourable Muhurtha to maximise their chances of success.
Presence of the planets
Vedic astrology focuses on nine “grahas”, which are collectively referred to as the “navagrahas” (nava meaning nine). They include the sun (Surya), moon (Chandra), Mars (Mangala), Mercury (Budha), Jupiter (Brihaspati), Venus (Shukra), Saturn (Shani), Rahu (north node of the moon), and Ketu (south node of the moon). According to Vedic astrology, the planet Venus offers luxury and Jupiter provides immense wealth. A conjunction of Jupiter and Venus unafflicted with the moon is therefore said to bring good luck and prosperity.
Birth charts
Many Indians strongly believe in analysing their birth chart in every aspect of their life. This comes from Vedic astrology, which argues that the alignment of different celestial bodies at your birth can provide invaluable insights. In the case of betting, it could highlight a person’s gambling and risk-taking tendencies and subsequent strategies they could employ to maximise their chances of winning, translating into profits and success.
Astrology and numerology
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