Government Lottery in India (2024)

The government lottery in India is legal & available in 13 states but it is banned in 15 states and 8 union territories. Read our complete guide to government lotteries to find out where you can play legally in India.

Written by Shivam Bhateja
Verified by BettingGuide team
Last updated 6/3/2024

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What are Government Lotteries in India?

The Public Gambling Act of 1867 prohibits the operations of public or common gambling houses in India. The same law delegates the decision-making powers to the states to curate their gambling laws. As a result, gambling has been legalised in three states — Daman, Goa and Sikkim, where people can visit land-based or water-based gambling houses.

Another type of gambling that has been legalised by the government of India is the lottery. It is regulated by the Lottery Regulations Act of 1998, which legalises government-run lotteries but the final decision remains with the state government.

Lotteries have always been a question of doubt amongst Indian punters because the gambling laws declare that public gambling houses are illegal, but government-run lotteries can be seen in many states. So, many people are confused if buying a lottery ticket would land them in trouble. 

The Lottery Regulations Act of 1998 of India allows any Indian state to legalise and organise government-run lotteries in their state. As a result, there are a few states where you can buy lottery tickets. These are sold through authorised vendors and each state has different days for draws.

Let’s find out more about government lotteries in India.

Legal Status of Lotteries in India

In India, lotteries are subject to regulation under The Lottery Regulations Act, 1998. This act serves as the cornerstone for lottery governance across the country. It's essential to note that while the central act provides the framework, the implementation and administration of lotteries often vary from one state to another.

Only 13 states have allowed the government to run and regulate lotteries, while the rest have either banned or limited them. The central government also has the power to stop any state from running a lottery or prevent ticket sales from other states.

So, which are the lucky 13 states where you can buy a lottery ticket? They are Kerala, Goa, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, West Bengal, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Manipur, Sikkim, Nagaland and Mizoram.

Kerala, for instance, stands out for its well-organized and transparent lottery system, which is a key factor in explaining why the lottery is so popular in Kerala compared to other states. This state-specific approach to lottery management has resulted in varying levels of popularity and trust in these games across different regions.

These states have their lottery departments or corporations that organize and manage the lottery draws. Some of the famous state lotteries are Kerala State Lotteries, Sikkim State Lotteries, Mizoram State Lotteries, Punjab State Lotteries, Goa State Lotteries, and Maharashtra State Lotteries.

The state lotteries have different lottery schemes, such as daily, weekly, monthly and bumper draws. You can buy the tickets from authorized agents or distributors, and the draws are held at fixed places and times. The prizes vary from small amounts to crores of rupees, depending on the lottery scheme and the ticket price. You can check the results through official websites, newspapers, TV channels and other media.

To run and organize lottery draws, a State Government in India has to follow these conditions:

  • The State Government sells the tickets directly or through authorized vendors and agents.

  • The State logo is clearly visible on the lottery ticket.

  • The prizes are not given on single digits or pre-decided numbers.

  • The revenue generated goes to the State’s public treasury.

  • The State Government is the only organizer of the lottery draws.

  • The draws take place within the State’s territory.

  • The State Government fixes the date of the draw.

  • There is more than one lottery draw every week.

  • The State Government owns the winnings that are not claimed.

  • There are up to 6 Bumper draws every year.

  • The terms and conditions set by the Central Government are met.

The 13 Indian States that have legal government lotteries use their right to do so, while the other States and Union Territories still ban the activity. The Central Government does not run, manage, or support any of the lotteries allowed by any of the States. However, it can intervene with a State Government’s policies if the laws are broken. For example, no State can make lottery rules that affect another State’s right to run, manage, or support the activity.

How to Play Government Lotteries

Playing a government lottery is very simple. You just need to buy a ticket from an authorised vendor in your state, where lotteries are legal. Each state has a fixed schedule of draw days and times, which you should check before buying the ticket. The draw is a public event where random numbers are drawn from big lottery machines.

Also, none of the states is allowed to sell government lottery tickets online. This means that punters can only buy physical paper tickets to enter the lottery. One can see the state logo printed on the authentication tickets.

To win a lottery, you must match the numbers on your ticket with the drawn numbers. It could be one, two or more numbers, or even all the numbers, though that is rare.

If you win a small prize, you can collect your money from the vendor you bought the ticket from. If you win a big prize, like the jackpot or bumper prize, you must collect your money from the state’s Lottery Department. You have to submit the required documents and the Claims Form to claim your prize.

A lottery is a fun and easy game of chance. You just have to buy a ticket and wait for the draw. You should also know about the different schemes and schedules of the state lotteries.

How To Buy a Government Lottery Ticket in India

Whether choosing to purchase lottery tickets offline or online, it's important to play responsibly and within the legal framework of your respective state.

Offline Purchasing:

Lottery tickets are sold by authorised vendors in each state where the government lotteries are legally operational. One may have to show valid photo identification while purchasing the ticket as proof of age. 

These vendors are authorised by the state authorities to sell the tickets with the official state government stamp on them. They are also authorised to distribute low-tier prizes to their customers if they win in a draw.

Online Purchasing:

Government lotteries in India are not allowed to be sold online. That means you can purchase govt lottery ticket as a paper ticket from vendors.

Moreover, they are only available to people living in India. This means the person purchasing the ticket must be physically present in the country.

Some websites claim to offer the government lottery in India online, but these websites are fraudulent.

You can play online international lotteries with much bigger prizes than any Indian government lottery. They are accessible on the internet!

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Hira Singh, a resident of Shawnee, Kansas, won the Mega Millions lottery of $50 million on March 12, 2019.

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Singh's ticket miraculously matched all six winning numbers: the white balls 10, 12, 16, 49, and 57, plus the Mega Ball of 18. The odds were astronomical, but fortune favored Singh! Even as he held the check, he confessed to being "still surprised" by this unbelievable stroke of luck.

While it might seem unlikely to strike it rich in international lotteries, the reality is quite different, especially in India. This top 10 list of the biggest lottery winners from India stands as a testament to that, offering inspiring tales of fortune.

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May Scheve Reardon, executive director of the Missouri Lottery

Indian State Lotteries (2024)

The Lottery Regulations Act, of 1998, gives each state in India the authority to run its state lottery. Out of 28 states and 8 union territories, only 13 states have legalised government lotteries. This means that it is banned in 15 states and 8 union territories.

The following is the list of 13 states where you can participate in government lotteries and information about their draws, price per ticket and more.

  • Punjab State Lottery

    Out of all the states, Punjab has the most liberal laws regarding the lotto. There are a total of 16 lottery schemes conducted under the authority of the Directorate of Punjab State Lotteries, Chandigarh. The price of a ticket can be as low as INR 20. The official draw of the lottery takes place at the Zila Parishad Building in Ludhiana and is also live-streamed.

  • Sikkim State Lottery

    There are 14 lottery schemes conducted under the authority of the Sikkim State Government Lottery. The ticket price can be as low as INR 2, which is very cheap compared to other states. The official draw of the lottery takes place at Blawakhani, Gangtok. Online lottery is also available in Sikkim with a wide number of legal lottery sites available.

  • West Bengal State Lottery

    There are 13 lottery schemes conducted under the authority of the West Bengal State Lottery. The price of a ticket can be as low as INR 2. The official draw of the lottery takes place at Ganesha Chandra Avenue, Kolkata. Online lottery is also available in West Bengal.

  • Arunachal Pradesh State Lottery

    There are 7 lottery schemes conducted every week under the authority of the Directorate of Arunachal Pradesh State Lotteries. The price of a ticket can be as low as INR 6. The official draw of the lottery takes place at Itanagar and is also live-streamed.

  • Assam State Lottery

    There are 13 lottery schemes conducted under the authority of the Government of Bodoland Territorial Council (Assam). The price of a ticket can be as low as INR 2. The official draw of the lottery takes place at Kokrajhar. Online lottery is also available in Assam with several great lottery sites available to play on.

  • Meghalaya State Lottery

    The lotteries in Meghalaya are conducted under the authority of the State Lottery Department of Meghalaya. Although the lottery was legalised in the state in 1982, there have been no draws since 2007. Therefore, there is not enough information about lotteries in Meghalaya and when the state will resume the draws.

  • Nagaland State Lottery

    4 active lottery schemes are conducted weekly under the authority of the Directorate of Nagaland State Lotteries. The price of a ticket can be as low as INR 6. The official draw of the lottery takes place at Kohima and is also live-streamed.

  • Manipur State Lottery

    There are 21 lottery schemes conducted under Manipur's authority of the Directorate of Lotteries. The price of a ticket can be as low as INR 6. The official draw of the lottery takes place at Moreh, Chandel and is also live-streamed. Online lottery is available in Manipur with several great sites available for Indian players.

  • Mizoram State Lottery

    There are 14 active lottery schemes conducted under the authority of the Mizoram State Lottery. The price of a ticket can be as low as INR 10. The official draw of the lottery takes place at IF&SL Building, Tuikhuahtlang, Aizawl.

  • Madhya Pradesh State Lottery

    Lotteries in Madhya Pradesh started in the 1970s but then were discontinued in the 1980s. Several attempts were made by the government to revive the game but it did not happen for more than a decade. Finally, in August 2021 a notification was issued by the government for the resumption of the state lottery in Madhya Pradesh. 

  • Maharashtra State Lottery

    There are more than 10 active lottery schemes conducted under the authority of the State Government of Maharashtra. The price of a ticket can be as low as INR 10. The official draw of the lottery takes place in Mumbai. Online lotteries are also available in Maharashtra with several great options open for Indian players.

  • Goa State Lottery

    Goa is the gambling capital of India. You can visit the luxurious onshore and offshore casinos on cruise ships or five-star hotels. There are 5 lottery schemes conducted under the authority of the Goa State Lottery. The price of a ticket can be as low as INR 6. The official draw of the lottery takes place at Panjim.

  • Kerala State Lottery

    There are 14 lottery schemes conducted under the authority of the Directorate of Kerala State Lotteries. The price of a ticket can be as low as INR 40. The official draw of the lottery takes place at Thiruvananthapuram and is also live-streamed.

    Punters can only buy paper tickets through the offline mode in all of the above states. The results of the draws are published on official websites and in newspapers. But, you can still buy online lottery tickets for international lotteries in Kerala with several sites offering a wide range of foreign lotteries.

Lottery Banned States in India

In India, the legality of lotteries is determined by state governments, resulting in varying regulations across the country. While some states have embraced government-run lotteries, others have opted to ban them entirely. These bans stem from concerns over gambling addiction, financial exploitation of the poor, and potential for fraudulent activities.

Playing the lottery is prohibited in several Indian states and union territories, including Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chandigarh, Chattisgarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Ladakh, Lakshadweep, Odisha, Puducherry, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand.

Types of Lottery Draws and Prizes

Government lotteries in India offer different types of lottery draws and prizes for the participants. The main types of lottery draws are regular and bumper draws:

Regular Draws

Regular draws are common draws that happen every day, week or month, depending on the state lottery. They cost less to buy, but they also offer smaller prizes. The prize money varies depending on how many tickets are sold and how many winners there are. Regular draws are frequent and cheap, but they give you a lower chance to win a big prize.

Bumper Draws

Bumper draws are special draws that happen once in a while, usually on festive occasions festivals like Diwali and New Year. They cost more to buy, but they also offer bigger prizes. The prize money is set and guaranteed, no matter how many tickets are sold or how many winners there are. Bumper draws are rare and costly, but they give you a better chance to win a huge prize.

Understanding the Prize Structure in Government Lotteries in India

The prize structure may vary from state to state, and from scheme to scheme, depending on the ticket price, the number of tickets sold, the number of winners, the type of draw (regular or bumper), and the terms and conditions set by the state government. However, some common features of the prize structure are:

  • The prizes have different levels, from small to big amounts. The bigger the prize, the harder it is to win and the more tax you have to pay.

  • The prizes can be either fixed or variable, depending on the lottery scheme. Fixed prizes are certain and do not change with the number of tickets sold or the number of winners. Variable prizes are uncertain and can change with the number of tickets sold and the number of winners. They may be more or less than the announced amount.

  • The prizes can be either paid in one lump sum or in installments, depending on the lottery scheme and the prize amount. Lump sum prizes are paid at once, while installment prizes are paid in equal yearly or monthly payments over some time.

  • The prizes are taxed under the Income Tax Act, 1961, and the tax is deducted by the lottery organizer before paying the prize. The tax rate can be from 12% to 40%, depending on the state and the prize amount. The winners have to report the lottery income in their income tax return and pay the tax as per the tax slab.

    The lottery income is counted as income from other sources. However, the winners can get a deduction of 50% of the lottery income under section 80TTA of the Income Tax Act, up to a limit of Rs. 10,000.

Gambling Laws in India for Lotteries

Online

The loopholes and lack of strictness, regarding online gambling, in the gambling laws of India, have provided a huge platform for online betting and gambling sites. This is the reason why punters living in the states where gambling is completely banned, where not even lotteries are legalised, do not feel the lack of such platforms as they can visit these gambling sites anytime and from anywhere.

Online lottery platforms revolutionised gaming in India, and many international lotteries like Megamillions, Powerball, Euro Millions, Euro Jackpots, and more are now available in India through online lotto sites. These online lottery platforms facilitate the purchase of official international lottery tickets, making it convenient for Indian players to participate in these high-stakes games. Gone are the days when geographical constraints limited the horizons of lottery enthusiasts. Today, they can easily buy tickets, try their luck, and chase life-changing jackpots from the comfort of their homes.

Offline

The Public Gambling Act of 1867 stands as a historical testament to India's gambling regulations. This act unequivocally prohibits the operation of common public gaming houses nationwide. In addition to the Public Gambling Act of 1867, the Lottery Regulations Act of 1998 plays a pivotal role in shaping India's lottery landscape. This act not only upholds the prohibition of common gaming houses but also empowers the government to formulate and enact its lottery regulations.

Presently, only three states in India permit the operation of land-based gambling houses, while a total of 13 states have official government-run lotteries. This diversity of approach underscores the complexity of India's gambling laws, as each state navigates its path within the broader legal framework.

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