
GOVERNMENT LOTTERY IN INDIA 2023
And Its Online Alternatives
Despite the immense popularity of the government lottery in India, players of just 13 States get to play it legally. Yes, the lottery is legal in India only in the States of Assam (Bodoland), Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Punjab, Sikkim, West Bengal .
All the other States and Union Territories have banned it. On top of that, all government-backed lotteries are currently paper-based (except Meghalaya's Shillong Teer, which is beyond the scope of this article). Although each of the aforementioned States has formulated its own lottery system, department, and schemes, there is no online lottery in the country.
For Indian lotto players, this is a major disadvantage — with restrictions in cross-selling of State lottery tickets thrown into the bargain. Thankfully, they can play international lotteries online via lottery sites that are not only safe but also facilitate two ways of participating – by buying an official ticket or betting on the outcome.
The Best Online Alternatives to Indian State Lotteries
This article is dedicated to all those Indian players who want to know more about govt lotteries in India and seek legal online alternatives.
13 Legal Government Lotteries in India May 2023
- Arunachal Pradesh State Lottery
- Assam State Lottery
- Goa State Lottery
- Kerala State Lottery
- Madhya Pradesh State Lottery
- Maharashtra State Lottery
- Manipur State Lottery
- Meghalaya State Lottery
- Mizoram State Lottery
- Nagaland State Lottery
- Punjab State Lottery
- Sikkim State Lottery
- West Bengal State Lottery
Arunachal Pradesh State Lottery
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The Directorate of Arunachal Pradesh State Lotteries runs 7 weekly schemes Monday through Sunday as follows:
- Singam Stack
- Singam Volcano
- Singam Peak
- Singam Summit
- Singam Pinnacle
- Singam Cliff
- Singam Heap
Each scheme has three draws happening at 10:55 AM (Morning), 3 PM (Noon), and 7 PM (Evening) on the day it’s held.
All tickets are priced at ₹6. Prizes are arranged in 6 tiers, which include a consolation prize. The highest you can win off a ticket to Arunachal Pradesh State Lotteries is ₹26.03 lakhs. The lowest is ₹120. Results are published on the official site and leading dailies in the State.
To know about the government lottery in Arunachal Pradesh in a nutshell, refer to the table below.
Arunachal Pradesh State Lottery | |
---|---|
Type of Lottery | Paper |
Location of Draw | Itanagar |
No. of Schemes | 7 |
Cheapest Ticket Price | ₹6 |
Prize Tiers | 6 |
Top Prize (Jackpot) | ₹26.03 lakhs |
Lowest Prize | ₹120 |
Live Streaming | Yes |
Official Website | arunachalpradeshlottery.org |
Assam State Lottery (Bodoland Lottery)
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The Bodoland Territorial Council (Assam) runs 13 schemes out of which 3 are Special Series draws that run every day. The remaining 10 schemes known as the Assam Series run under different names every day.
The names of the draws that run Monday through Sunday are listed below:
Assam Series
- Future – 12 PM (Sincere, Faithful, Kind, Gentle, Tender, Good, Loving)
- Singam – 5 PM (Yellow, Red, Green, Black, Blue, Pink, White)
- Kuil – 8 PM (Silver, Diamond, Gold, Platinum, Best, King, Super)
- Swarnalaxmi – 3 PM (Pearl, Coral, Emerald, Silver, Diamond, Gold, Ruby)
- Vishnu – 12 PM (Sun, Moon, Star, Fire, Storm, Wave, Thunder)
- Kumaran – 12 PM (Sun, Moon, Star, Fire, Storm, Wave, Thunder)
- Nallaneram – 7 PM (Luck, Chance, Fortune, Game, Charm, Skill, Effort)
- Thangam – 7 PM (Luck, Chance, Fortune, Game, Charm, Skill, Effort)
- Deer – 8 PM (Royal, Super, Pearl, Platinum, Gold, Diamond, Silver)
- Rosa – 8 PM (Royal, Super, Pearl, Platinum, Gold, Diamond, Silver)
Special Series
- Mani – 3 PM
- Vairam – 3 PM
- Lion – 3 PM
Cost of tickets as well as the prizes vary from one draw to the next. For instance, tickets to the Assam Future Series draws are priced at ₹7 while those of Thangam, Deer, and Rosa are priced at ₹6. All other tickets cost ₹2.
There are 6 prize tiers for all the 10 schemes under the Assam Series. On the other hand, the Special Series draws come with 4 prize tiers. The prize money varies for each draw. The highest you can win off a ticket to Assam lotteries is ₹5 lakhs and the lowest is ₹50.
Results are published on the official site and leading dailies in the State. To know about the government lottery in Assam in a nutshell, refer to the table below.
Assam State Lottery (Bodoland Lottery) | |
---|---|
Type of Lottery | Paper |
Location of Draw | Kokrajhar |
No. of Schemes | 13 |
Cheapest Ticket Price | ₹2 |
Prize Tiers | 4 or 6 |
Top Prize (Jackpot) | ₹5 lakhs |
Lowest Prize | ₹50 |
Live Streaming | No |
Official Website | bodolotteries.com |
Goa State Lottery
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The Directorate of State Lotteries, Goa has been operational since 1995 with an aim to uplift the poor and underprivileged. Currently, it runs 6 main schemes (weekly and monthly), which we have discussed below.
Golden Series
Daily Draws (Monday through Sunday)
- Kuber Laxmi – 2.30 PM (Earth, Sun, Moon, Jupiter, Mars, Mercury, Venus)
- Laxmi – 4 PM (Earth, Sun, Moon, Jupiter, Mars, Mercury, Venus)
- Mahalaxmi – 5.30 PM (Earth, Sun, Moon, Jupiter, Mars, Mercury, Venus)
- Dhanlaxmi – 7 PM (Earth, Sun, Moon, Jupiter, Mars, Mercury, Venus)
Tickets are priced at ₹10.
Monthly Draws
- Gudipadwa Baisakhi 20 – 5 PM (3rd Tuesday of every month)
- Gudipadwa Baisakhi 50 – 5 PM (4th Tuesday of every month)
Tickets to Gudipadwa Baisakhi 20 are priced at ₹20 and that to Gudipadwa Baisakhi 50 at ₹50.
Rajshree Series
The Rajshree Series draws run Monday through Sunday under the following names:
- Som
- Mangal
- Budh
- Guru
- Shukra
- Shani
- Ravi
On the day it happens, each draw runs thrice at 2 PM, 4.40 PM, and 8 PM. Tickets are priced at ₹6.
Rajshree 10 Series
The Rajshree 10 Series draws run Monday through Sunday under the following names:
- Som
- Mangal
- Budh
- Guru
- Shukra
- Shani
- Ravi
On the day it happens, each draw runs four times at 12 PM, 3.20 PM, 5.20 PM and 8 PM. Tickets are priced at ₹10.
Rajshree Weekly Series
The Rajshree Weekly Series draws run Monday through Sunday at 6.40 PM under the following names:
- Som
- Mangal
- Budh
- Guru
- Shukra
- Shani
- Ravi
Tickets to this lottery are priced at ₹6.
Labhlaxmi Weekly Series
The Labhlaxmi Weekly Series draws run Monday through Sunday at 6 PM under the following names:
- Aries
- Taurus
- Gemini
- Cancer
- Leo
- Virgo
- Libra
Tickets to this lottery are priced at ₹10.
Dear Shublaxmi Series
The Dear Shublaxmi Series draws run Monday through Sunday under the following names at 12.40 PM, 4 PM, 6 PM, and 7.20 PM respectively:
- Colva, Cabo De Rama, Rajbagh, Betul
- Arambol, Mandrem, Kakolem, Utorda
- Chapora, Mobor, Polem, Querim
- Candolim, Bambolim, Talpona, Patnem
- Agonda, Bogmalo, Galgibaga, Miramar
- Butterfly, Varca, Cola, Ashwem
- Dona Paula, Majorda, Coco, Siridao
Ticket to all of these draws are priced at ₹10.
The prize tiers vary for each draw and usually range between 1 to 10. The maximum you can win off a ticket to Goa lottery draws is ₹20 lakhs and the minimum is ₹50. For a brief overview of the government lottery in Goa, check the table below:
Goa State Lottery | |
---|---|
Type of Lottery | Paper |
Location of Draw | Panjim |
No. of Schemes | 6 |
Cheapest Ticket Price | ₹6 |
Prize Tiers | 1 to 10 |
Top Prize (Jackpot) | ₹20 lakhs |
Lowest Prize | ₹50 |
Live Streaming | No |
Official Website | https://statelotteries.goa.gov.in/ |
Kerala State Lottery
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Kerela is the first State to start government-backed paper lotteries in India. The State’s Lottery Department currently runs 14 schemes that are held weekly, monthly, and annually, which we have discussed below.
Weekly Draws
The following weekly lottery draws run Monday through Sunday between 2:30 PM and 5:30 PM in Kerala:
- Win-Win
- Sthree Sakthi
- Akshaya
- Karunya Plus
- Nirmal
- Karunya
- Pournami
The cost of each ticket is ₹6. The prize structure varies from one weekly draw to the next with the tiers ranging between 7 and 8 plus a consolation prize. The most you can win off a ticket to Kerala weekly government lotteries is ₹80 lakhs. The minimum you can win is ₹50.
Monthly Draws
Bhagyamithra is the only monthly lottery draw that runs in Kerala. It is organized on the 1st Sunday of every month between 2:30 PM and 5:30 PM. Each ticket is priced at ₹100.
The draw has 9 prize tiers, which include a consolation prize as well. The most you can win off a ticket to the Bhagyamithra lottery is ₹1 crore and the least you can win is ₹300.
Yearly Draws
The State Lottery Department of Kerala organizes 6 yearly draws (also known as Bumper draws) during various occasions. Below is the list.
- Vishu Bumper – April / May
- Thiruvonam Bumper – September
- Pooja Bumper – October / November
- Christmas – New Year Bumper – January / February
- Summer Bumper – March
- Monsoon Bumper – July
All draws take place between 2:30 PM and 5:30 PM. Tickets to Thiruvonam and Summer Bumper lottery draws cost ₹200 each. The rest are priced at ₹100. Bumper draws in Kerala can fetch you anywhere between ₹3 crores and ₹7 crores if you hit the jackpot. The lowest you can win off a Bumper lottery ticket ranges between ₹200 and ₹500 depending on the draw you enter.
It’s amazing how among all the States that organize Govt lotteries in India, Kerala pays out the highest prizes. You would win up to ₹7 crores off a ticket. The minimum prize money, however, is just ₹50.
Additionally, this is the only Indian State where the Lottery Department runs a mobile app for players to check Kerala lottery results. The app, which goes by the name of Bhagya Keralam, also lets users check the genuineness of the tickets they purchase and track the status of the payment process after they claim a prize. It’s available for download on Google Play Store.
To know about the government lottery in Kerala in brief, refer to the table below.
Kerala State Lottery | |
---|---|
Type of Lottery | Paper |
Location of Draw | Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam, Punalur, Kattappana, Thamarassery |
No. of Schemes | 14 |
Cheapest Ticket Price | ₹40 |
Prize Tiers | 7 to 11 |
Top Prize (Jackpot) | ₹7 crores |
Lowest Prize | ₹50 |
Live Streaming | Yes |
Official Website |
Madhya Pradesh State Lottery
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After repeated allowing and banning of lottery in Madhya Pradesh, the State has finally decided to legalize government lottery schemes starting 23 August 2021. A gazette notification was issued for the same, in which betting and lottery have been allowed.
Currently, nothing is known about when the Lottery Department would be fully functional or what schemes would run. However, going by old schemes, we can look forward to a minimum of one daily draw and seven in a week.
Ticket prices are expected to be competitive and top prizes at least in lakhs. However, those looking to play the government lottery online in India would possibly be disappointed yet again because Madhya Pradesh is highly likely to introduce only a paper lottery. Watch this space for more information.
For a brief overview of the government lottery in Madhya Pradesh, refer to the table below.
Madhya Pradesh State Lottery | |
---|---|
Type of Lottery | Paper |
Location of Draw | Bhopal |
No. of Schemes | Unknown |
Cheapest Ticket Price | Unknown |
Prize Tiers | Unknown |
Top Prize (Jackpot) | Unknown |
Lowest Prize | Unknown |
Live Streaming | No |
Official Website | Unknown |
Can I Play Online Lottery from Madhya Pradesh?
Maharashtra State Lottery
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The State of Maharashtra runs 18 government lottery schemes under which at least one draw runs every day except on Sundays and three national holidays – Republic Day (26 January), Independence Day (15 August), and Gandhi Jayanti (2 October). The draws are scheduled on a weekly, monthly, and yearly basis.
Weekly Draws
The following draws run Monday through Saturday at 4:15 PM:
- Sagar Lakshmi
- Padmini
- Akshay
- Akarshak Puskaraj
- Vaibhav Lakshmi
- Maharashtra Lakshmi
Each ticket costs ₹50. The scheme offers 7 prize tiers, including a consolation prize. The highest you can win off a ticket to these weekly draws in Maharashtra is ₹7 lakhs. The lowest prize is ₹100.
Mini Draws
Apart from the weekly draws, the Lottery Department of Maharashtra also organizes 4 mini draws between 3 PM to 5:15 PM, which have been listed below:
- Maharashtra Diamond Mini – Monday
- Maharashtra Platinum Mini – Wednesday
- Maharashtra Gold Mini – Thursday
- Maharashtra Silver Mini – Saturday
Each ticket costs ₹10. The scheme offers 3 prize tiers. The highest you can win off a ticket to these mini draws is either ₹1 lakh or ₹2 lakhs. The lowest prize is either ₹500 or ₹700.
Monthly Draws
The State Lottery Department organizes only 1 monthly draw – Maharashtra Sahyadri once every month at 4 PM on a pre-scheduled date. Tickets are priced at ₹50. The scheme comes with 10 prize tiers. The highest you can win off a ticket to this monthly draw is ₹25 lakhs and the lowest is ₹100.
Special Draws
Every year, the State runs 7 government-backed Special Draws (also known as Lottery Bonanza), which are as follows:
- Maharashtra Gudhipadva Bumper – April (4:30 PM)
- Rashi Samruddhi – October (4 PM)
- Maharashtra Super 100 – October (3:30 PM)
- Maharashtra Super 500 – October (3:30 PM)
- Maharashtra Super 1000 – October (3:30 PM)
- Maharashtra Dasara Bumper – October (3:30 PM)
- Maharashtra Diwali Bumper – November (3 PM)
The ticket price varies for each draw and ranges between ₹25 and ₹1,000. The bigger the top prize, the higher is the cost. Of course, the prize tiers are different as well. The maximum you can win is ₹1 crore and the minimum is ₹100.
To know about the government lottery in Maharashtra in a nutshell, refer to the table below.
Maharashtra State Lottery | |
---|---|
Type of Lottery | Paper |
Location of Draw | Mumbai |
No. of Schemes | 18 |
Cheapest Ticket Price | ₹10 |
Prize Tiers | 3 to 11 |
Top Prize (Jackpot) | ₹1 crore |
Lowest Prize | ₹100 |
Live Streaming | No |
Official Website | lottery.maharashtra.gov.in |
Manipur State Lottery
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The Directorate of Lotteries, Government of Manipur runs 28 schemes Monday through Sunday at 11:55 AM, 4 PM, 7 PM, and 9 PM as follows:
- Singam (Tagetes Morning, Foxglove Day, Candytuft Evening, Badger Night)
- Singam (Helenium Morning, Wedelia Day, Kalmia Evening, Lizard Night)
- Singam (Anemone Morning, Sedum Day, Dahlia Evening, Otter Night)
- Singam (Gerbera Morning, Echium Day, Ursinia Evening, Otter Night)
- Singam (Verbena Morning, Nepeta Day, Nemesia Evening, Seagull Night)
- Singam (Alyssum Morning, Honesty Day, Freesia Evening, Walrus Night)
- Singam (Begonia Morning, Vinca Day, Flumeia Evening, Turtle Night)
Each ticket costs ₹6. All the schemes come with 6 prize tiers, which also include a consolation prize. The maximum you can win off a ticket to Manipur government lotteries is ₹27 lakhs and the lowest is ₹500.
The table below offers a brief overview of the government lottery in Manipur.
Manipur State Lottery | |
---|---|
Type of Lottery | Paper |
Location of Draw | Moreh, Chandel |
No. of Schemes | 28 |
Cheapest Ticket Price | ₹6 |
Prize Tiers | 6 |
Top Prize (Jackpot) | ₹27 lakhs |
Lowest Prize | ₹500 |
Live Streaming | Yes |
Official Website | www.manipurlotteries.com |
Meghalaya State Lottery
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The lottery is legal in Meghalaya and the State has a Lottery Department, too. However, no draws have been conducted since 2007.
Despite this fact, several online lottery comparer sites have listed lottery schemes, which, they claim are run by the State Government. Please bear in mind that these schemes are nothing more than a scam.
Hopefully, in the near future, Meghalaya resumes its lotteries so we can update you with the information. Watch this space. For now, here is a brief overview of the government lottery in Meghalaya.
Meghalaya State Lottery | |
---|---|
Type of Lottery | Paper |
Location of Draw | Shillong |
No. of Schemes | Unknown |
Cheapest Ticket Price | Unknown |
Prize Tiers | Unknown |
Top Prize (Jackpot) | Unknown |
Lowest Prize | Unknown |
Live Streaming | No |
Official Website | Unknown |
Mizoram State Lottery
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The Institutional Finance and State Lottery, Government of Mizoram runs 14 lottery schemes on a weekly, monthly and yearly basis. We have discussed them below.
Weekly Draws
- Rajshree Magic 50 – Monday
- Rajshree Magic 100 – Wednesday
- Rajshree Magic 50 Guru – Thursday
- Rajshree Magic 30 – Saturday
- Rajshree Magic 20 – Sunday
The weekly draws are held at 5 PM on all days except Tuesdays and Fridays. Ticket prices vary according to the draw you choose to play, and range between ₹20, ₹30, ₹50, and ₹100. The prize tiers vary, too. The highest you can win off a ticket to Mizoram lottery weekly draws is ₹5.75 lakhs and the lowest is ₹100.
Monthly Draws
- Rajshree 250 – 1st Tuesday
- Rajshree 500 – 2nd Tuesday
- Rajshree 10 – 3rd Tuesday
- Rajshree 20 – 4th Tuesday
- Rajshree 25 – 1st Friday
- Rajshree 50 – 2nd Friday
- Rajshree 100 – 4th Friday
- Rajshree 30 – 3rd Friday
All monthly draws in Mizoram, except Rajshree 30 are held at 5 PM. The latter is held at 8 PM. Ticket prices range from ₹10 to ₹500. The maximum number of prize tiers these schemes offer is 9. The maximum you can win off a ticket to Mizoram monthly lottery draws is ₹10 lakhs and the minimum is ₹100.
Yearly Draws
Mizoram Lottery Department conducts only one annual draw – Rajshree Basant Panchami – during the occasion of Basant Panchami in January or February. The draw is conducted at 2 PM and one ticket costs ₹250. The scheme offers 8 prize tiers, where the top prize is ₹10 lakhs and the lowest prize is ₹300
To know about the government lottery in Mizoram in a nutshell, refer to the table below.
Mizoram State Lottery | |
---|---|
Type of Lottery | Paper |
Location of Draw | Aizawl |
No. of Schemes | 14 |
Cheapest Ticket Price | ₹10 |
Prize Tiers | 6 to 9 |
Top Prize (Jackpot) | ₹10 lakhs |
Lowest Prize | ₹100 |
Live Streaming | No |
Official Website | ifsl.mizoram.gov.in |
Nagaland State Lottery
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The Directorate of Nagaland State Lotteries runs 4 schemes on a weekly basis as follows:
Dear Morning Weekly
The following draws are held Monday through Sunday at 2 PM:
- Dear Ganga Morning Weekly
- Dear Teesta Morning Weekly
- Dear Torsha Morning Weekly
- Dear Padma Morning Weekly
- Dear Hoogly Morning Weekly
- Dear Kosai Morning Weekly
- Dear Damodar Morning Weekly
Tickets are priced at ₹6 each. The scheme comes with 6 prize tiers, which include a consolation prize. Additionally, Super prizes are rewarded, too. The maximum you can win off a ticket to Nagaland’s Dear Morning Weekly draws is ₹99 lakhs and the minimum is ₹120.
Dear Day Weekly
The following draws are held Monday through Sunday at 4 PM:
- Dear Sun Day Weekly
- Dear Moon Day Weekly
- Dear Mercury Day Weekly
- Dear Venus Day Weekly
- Dear Earth Day Weekly
- Dear Mars Day Weekly
- Dear Jupiter Day Weekly
Tickets are priced at ₹6 each. This scheme, too, comes with 6 prize tiers, including a consolation prize. Super prizes are rewarded in addition to the main prizes. The maximum you can win off a ticket to Nagaland’s Dear Day Weekly draws is ₹99 lakhs and the minimum is ₹120.
Dear Evening Weekly
The following draws are held Monday through Sunday at 8 PM:
- Dear Flamingo Evening Weekly
- Dear Parrot Evening Weekly
- Dear Eagle Evening Weekly
- Dear Falcon Evening Weekly
- Dear Vulture Evening Weekly
- Dear Ostrich Evening Weekly
- Dear Hawk Evening Weekly
Tickets to these draws are also priced at ₹6 each. There are 6 prize tiers, including a consolation prize. Super prizes are also rewarded. The maximum you can win off a ticket to Nagaland’s Dear Evening Weekly draws is ₹99 lakhs and the minimum is ₹120.
Labhlaxmi
The following draws are held Monday through Sunday at 6 PM:
- Labhlaxmi Gold
- Labhlaxmi Platinum
- Labhlaxmi Silver
- Labhlaxmi Emerald
- Labhlaxmi Sapphire
- Labhlaxmi Supreme
- Labhlaxmi Pearl
Tickets are priced at ₹10 each. The scheme offers 6 prize tiers without any consolation prize or Super prize. The maximum you can win off a ticket to Nagaland’s Labhlaxmi draws is ₹10K and the minimum is ₹100.
The table below will help you get a brief overview of the government lottery in Nagaland.
Nagaland State Lottery | |
---|---|
Type of Lottery | Paper |
Location of Draw | Kohima |
No. of Schemes | 4 |
Cheapest Ticket Price | ₹6 |
Prize Tiers | 6 |
Top Prize (Jackpot) | ₹99 lakhs |
Lowest Prize | ₹100 |
Live Streaming | Yes |
Official Website | www.nagalandlotteries.com |
Punjab State Lottery
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Of all Indian State Lotteries, Punjab lottery is perhaps the most publicized and promulgated. Under 16 schemes, the Lottery Department of Punjab runs the following draws on a weekly, monthly, quarterly, and yearly basis:
Weekly Draws
- Dear 20 – Thursday
- Dear 50 – Tuesday
- Dear 100 – Monday, Wednesday, Friday
- Dear 200 – Tuesday, Thursday, Sunday
The Dear 20 and 50 lottery draws are held at 4:30 PM while the Dear 100 and 200 lottery draws are held at 8 PM. As the names suggest, tickets to Dear 20 are priced at ₹20, that to Dear 50 at ₹50, Dear 100 at ₹100, and Dear 200 at ₹200.
The prize tiers vary for each draw and range between 6 and 7. The maximum you can win off a ticket to these four weekly draws is ₹1 Crore while the minimum is ₹50.
Monthly Draws
- Dear 250 – 2nd Thursday
- Dear 500 – 3rd Saturday
- Dear 1000 – 2nd Saturday
- Dear 2000 – 1st Saturday
- Dear 2000 Plus – 5th Saturday
All the aforementioned monthly draws are held at 8 PM on the dedicated days. Ticket prices correspond to the names: Dear 250 tickets are priced at ₹250, Dear 500 tickets at ₹500, Dear 1000 tickets at ₹1,000, Dear 2000 at ₹2,000, and Dear 2000 Plus, again, at ₹2,000.
The prize tiers range from 6 to 7. The top prize you can win off a ticket to the monthly lottery draws in Punjab is ₹5 Crore. The lowest you can win is ₹500.
Quarterly Draws
Only one quarterly lottery draw – Dear 5000 – runs in the State of Punjab. It is scheduled every 3 months and organized at 8 PM on the specified day. As the name suggests, a ticket to Dear 5000 draws costs ₹5,000. This scheme offers 5 prize tiers. The highest prize is ₹1 Crore and the lowest is ₹6,000.
Yearly Draws
- Dear New Year Lohri Bumper – Once on New Year/Lohri (January)
- Dear Rakhi Bumper – Once on Raksha Bandhan (August)
- Dear Diwali Bumper – Once on Diwali (October/November)
- Dear Baisakhi Bumper – Once on Baisakhi (March/April)
- Dear Maha Shiv Ratri Bumper – Once on Shivratri (February/March)
- Dear Holi Bumper – Once on Holi (March)
The timings for the yearly draws vary. For instance, Dear New Year Lohri Bumper and Dear Diwali Bumper draws are scheduled at 7 PM while Dear Rakhi Bumper and Dear Holi Bumper draws are held at 4 PM. Similarly, the Dear Baisakhi Bumper draw happens at 4:30 PM and Dear Maha Shiv Ratri Bumper draw at 3 PM.
The prize tiers vary from 6 to 8. The highest you can win off a Bumper draw in Punjab is ₹5.25 Crore – one of the highest offered by any Indian State lottery. The lowest you can win is ₹200.
Check out the table below to know about the government lottery in Punjab in a nutshell.
Punjab State Lottery | |
---|---|
Type of Lottery | Paper |
Location of Draw | Ludhiana |
No. of Schemes | 16 |
Cheapest Ticket Price | ₹20 |
Prize Tiers | 5 to 8 |
Top Prize (Jackpot) | ₹5.25 crore |
Lowest Prize | ₹50 |
Live Streaming | Yes |
Official Website | punjabstatelotteries.gov.in |
Sikkim State Lottery
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The Directorate of Sikkim State Lotteries runs 5 schemes on a weekly and fortnightly basis as follows:
Labhlaxmi Weekly Draws – Series 1
The following draws run Monday through Sunday at 4 PM:
- Labhlaxmi Gold
- Labhlaxmi Platimum
- Labhlaxmi Silver
- Labhlaxmi Emerald
- Labhlaxmi Sapphire
- Labhlaxmi Supreme
- Labhlaxmi Pearl
Tickets are priced at ₹10. The scheme comes with 6 prize tiers that offer Regular as well as Super Prizes. The maximum you can win is ₹10K and the minimum is ₹100.
Labhlaxmi Weekly Draws – Series 2
The following draws run Monday through Sunday at 7 PM:
- Labhlaxmi Ruby
- Labhlaxmi Topaz
- Labhlaxmi Jade
- Labhlaxmi Garnet
- Labhlaxmi Onyx
- Labhlaxmi Opal
- Labhlaxmi Diamond
Tickets are priced at ₹10. This scheme, too, comes with 6 prize tiers that offer Regular as well as Super Prizes. The maximum you can win is ₹10K and the minimum is ₹100.
Dear 100 Weekly Draws
The following draws run Monday through Sunday at 8 PM:
- Dear 100 Eagle
- Dear 100 Parrot
- Dear 100 Peacock
- Dear 100 Sparrow
- Dear 100 Ostrich
- Dear 100 Falcon
- Dear 100 Swan
Tickets are priced at ₹100. This scheme, too, comes with 6 prize tiers that offer Regular as well as Super Prizes. The maximum you can win is ₹19 lakhs and the minimum is ₹500.
Dear 20 Fortnightly Draws
Sikkim’s Dear 20 fortnightly draws run every two weeks at 8 PM. Tickets are priced at ₹20. The scheme comes with 6 prize tiers that include Regular and Super Prizes. The highest win is ₹9 lakhs and the lowest is ₹20.
Dear 50 Fortnightly Draws
Sikkim’s Dear 50 fortnightly draws run every two weeks at 8 PM. Tickets are priced at ₹50. This scheme also comes with 6 prize tiers, including Regular and Super Prizes. The highest win is ₹11 lakhs and the lowest is ₹100.
Below is a table with all the important information about the government lottery in Sikkim in short.
Sikkim State Lottery | ||
---|---|---|
Type of Lottery | Paper | |
Location of Draw | Gangtok | |
No. of Schemes | 5 | |
Cheapest Ticket Price | ₹10 | |
Prize Tiers | 6 | |
Top Prize (Jackpot) | ₹19 lakhs | |
Lowest Prize | ₹20 | |
Live Streaming | Yes | |
Official Website | www.sikkimlotteries.com |
Can I Play the Sikkim State Lottery Online?
West Bengal State Lottery
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The West Bengal State Lottery Directorate runs 13 schemes weekly and annually. We have listed them below.
Weekly Draws
7 weekly draws are held at 4 PM Monday through Sunday as follows:
- Banga Lakshmi Teesta
- Banga Lakshmi Torsha
- Banga Lakshmi Raidak
- Bangabhumi Bhagirathi Super Draw
- Bangabhumi Ajay Super Draw
- Bangasree Damodar Super Draw
- Bangasree Ichamati Super Draw
Of the 7 draws, 4 are Super draws, the tickets of which costs are higher. Tickets to Banga Lakshmi Teesta, Torsha, and Raidak are priced at ₹2, that of Bangabhumi Bhagirathi and Ajay Super Draw at ₹5, and that of Bangasree Damodar and Ichamati Super Draw at ₹10.
The prize tiers for these weekly draws range between 5 and 8. The maximum you can win off a ticket is ₹40 lakhs and the minimum is ₹20.
Yearly Draws
6 government lottery draws are organized by the State Lottery Department of West Bengal every year on various occasions, which we have listed below.
- New Year Bumper – January
- Nababarsha Bumper – March / April
- Holi Bumper – March
- Rathayatra Bumper – July
- Puja Bumper – September / October
- Diwali Bumper – October / November
Of them, the Diwali Bumper draw is held at 5:00 PM on the scheduled day, and the rest at 4:00 PM. Tickets for each draw are priced at ₹20. Prize tiers range between 6 and 8. The maximum you can win off a government Bumper draw in West Bengal is ₹1 Crore and an additional prize of ₹5.6 lakhs or a car. The minimum you can win is ₹200.
Please note that Nagaland’s Dear lottery schemes are also active in West Bengal, which means you can buy a ticket to the draws and claim the prize if you land a win.
Below is a table explaining the government lottery in West Bengal in a nutshell.
West Bengal State Lottery | ||
---|---|---|
Type of Lottery | Paper | |
Location of Draw | Kolkata | |
No. of Schemes | 13 | |
Cheapest Ticket Price | ₹2 | |
Prize Tiers | 5 to 8 | |
Top Prize (Jackpot) | ₹1 Crore + ₹5.6 lakhs / car | |
Lowest Prize | ₹20 | |
Live Streaming | Yes | |
Official Website | www.lotterysambad.com |
Lottery Banned States in India
So far, we talked about all the State where the lottery is legal in India. Now, let’s check out the States and Union Territories where it isn’t. We have listed them below.
- Andaman and Nicobar Islands (UT)
- Andhra Pradesh
- Bihar
- Chandigarh (UT)
- Chattisgarh
- Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu (UT)
- Delhi (UT)
- Gujarat
- Haryana
- Himachal Pradesh
- Jammu and Kashmir (UT)
- Jharkhand
- Karnataka
- Ladakh (UT)
- Lakshadweep (UT)
- Odisha
- Puducherry (UT)
- Rajasthan
- Tamil Nadu
- Telangana
- Tripura
- Uttar Pradesh
- Uttarakhand
Some of these States and Union Territories allow the sale of tickets from other States. The likes include Delhi and Haryana. However, most Indian lotto players go without a legal lottery in their own States, which is disappointing.
About the Selective Legality of Indian State Lotteries
Indian State lotteries are legal in the aforementioned 13 States and banned in the rest by dint of the Lotteries (Regulation) Act, 1998. This Act came into being after the Government of Kerala introduced a lottery department in 1967 and banned private lotteries across the State.
This bold step inspired other States to come up with lottery departments of their own, which, in turn, prompted the Central Government to pass the Act to regulate how lotteries are run nationwide.
Accordingly, a State is free to legalize or criminalize playing the lottery and formulate rules regarding the same. The Act does mention a few criteria for States that want to organize, conduct or promote a lottery. We have listed them below.
- Prizes should not be based on single-digit results.
- Prizes should not be awarded on pre-announced numbers.
- Tickets must be printed within the State that wants to organize the lottery.
- Tickets must bear the logo of the State for authenticity
- Tickets must be sold by the State Government directly or via authorized agents.
- Revenue generated from the sale of tickets must be credited to the State’s exchequer.
- The State Government must conduct the draws by themselves and within the State.
- Unclaimed winnings would become the State’s property.
- Each lottery should not be drawn more than once per week.
- The time of draw should be predecided.
- Up to 6 Bumper draws should be offered in one calendar year.
The Act also gives the States the power to ban the sale of tickets to lotteries conducted by the other Indian States. For more details, refer to our detailed article on the legality of lotteries in India.
Online International Lotteries – Best Alternatives to Indian State Lotteries
Indian Govt Lottos vs. International Lottos | |
---|---|
Government Lottos | International Lottos |
Paper lotteries | Online lotteries |
Cheap tickets | Expensive tickets |
No syndicate betting | Syndicate betting allowed |
Smaller jackpots | Bigger jackpots |
Long payout process | Fast payout process |
Restricted to only 13 Indian States | Can be played online from anywhere |
Approval of claim subject to availability of the winning ticket | Tickets are scanned and sent so you’d never lose them |
Great for budget players | Great for high rollers |
The crux of the selective legality of lotteries is that some lotto players in India get to buy government lottery tickets legally, while others don’t.
Also, those who can access Indian State lotteries often complain about the lack of online options, the measly prize money, and the long (and tiresome) procedure to claim a win. Add frauds and fake tickets to that and the woes get worse.
For all such players, there’s a better option – International lotteries – that can be played online from anywhere in the country (except those States that have specifically banned foreign online lotteries).
Tickets to these world lottos can be bought online via lottery sites that act as either ticket messenger service providers or betting sites. The former lets players buy official tickets while the latter let them bet on the outcome of the lottos and win equivalent prizes.
The rewards are definitely better and bigger than Government Lottos in India. The process of claiming a win is easier, too. The best part is you can play in syndicates and share your ticket expenses as well as improve your chances of winning.
Over the years, these lotteries and sites have created numerous winners from India, who have landed massive wins and become millionaires overnight. Don’t believe us? Check out this list where we’ve included the top international lottery winners from India.
For your convenience, we have listed below the 12 best international lotteries you can play online from India and possibly win!
- US Powerball
- Euro Millions
- EuroJackpot
- US Mega Millions
- Mega-Sena
- SuperEnaLotto
- La Primitiva
- El Gordo
- UK Lotto
- Oz Lotto
- Lotto649 (Canadian Lotto)
- German Lotto
Min jackpot: ₹150 Crores
Record win: ₹16,500 Crores
Min jackpot: ₹139 Crores
Record win: ₹1847 Crores
Min jackpot: ₹81 Crores
Record win: ₹736 Crores
Min jackpot: ₹287 Crores
Record win: ₹11,200 Crores
Min jackpot: ₹2,8 Crores
Record win: ₹316 Crores
Min jackpot: ₹16.8 Crores
Record win: ₹1754 Crores
Min jackpot: ₹25.1 Crores
Record win: ₹852.4 Crores
Min jackpot: ₹42 Crores
Record win: ₹282 Crores
Min jackpot: ₹20 Crores
Record win: ₹660 Crores
Min jackpot: ₹10 Crores
Record win: ₹600 Crores
Min jackpot: ₹30 Crores
Record win: ₹380 Crore
Min jackpot: ₹8.5 Crores
Record win: ₹380 Crores
FAQ
How to Buy Government Lottery Tickets in India?
The only way to buy Government lottery tickets in India is offline – either from the concerned Lottery Department or through authorized sellers. To buy a ticket, visit the Department or seller in person and make the purchase by paying upfront.
You would be handed out a paper ticket, which will bear the name of the draw, the time, the prize money and other details. Remember to write your full name and address and store it in a proper place so you don’t lose it.
How to Check Government Lottery Results?
You can check Government lottery results in three ways:
1. Visit the official site of the State Lottery Department that organizes the draw.
2. Check the newspapers and gazettes where the State Government publishes the results.
3. Watch the YouTube channel if the organizers stream the draw live.
Google the results and check the top sites.
Is There a Way to Play Government Lotteries in India for Free?
There is no way to play Government lotteries in India for free. Currently, all tickets require expenditure or payment, although the prices are mostly cheap. Check out our page about how to play lottery for free online.
Is There Any Online Government Lottery in India?
At the moment, there is no online Government lottery in India. Playwin was the only PAN-India online lottery approved by the Government of Sikkim, which was discontinued in 2019.