13 Legal State Lotteries in India
Each Indian state has the authority to legalise or ban lottery. And so you find a government approved lottery in only 13 Indian states. All these states conduct their own lottery draws, and you can participate in them only if you live in such states.
The following Indian states offer government lotteries.
- Arunachal Pradesh
- Assam
- Goa
- Kerala
- Madhya Pradesh
- Maharashtra
- Manipur
- Meghalaya
- Mizoram
- Nagaland
- Punjab
- Sikkim
- West Bengal
States Where Government Lottery is Banned
Govt approved lottery games are banned in 17 states. However, residents of these states can legally buy tickets to international lotteries online.
Below, you’ll find all Indian states that have banned government lottery.
- Andhra Pradesh
- Bihar
- Chhattisgarh
- Delhi
- Gujarat
- Haryana
- Himachal Pradesh
- Jammu and Kashmir
- Jharkhand
- Karnataka
- Odisha
- Rajasthan
- Tamil Nadu
- Telangana
- Tripura
- Uttar Pradesh
- Uttarakhand
Indian State Lottery Games
| Lottery | No. of Games | Min. Ticket Price | Biggest Jackpot |
| Arunachal Pradesh | 7 | ₹6 | ₹26.03 lakhs |
| Assam | 10 | ₹2 – 7 | ₹1 lakh |
| Goa | 6 | ₹6 – 10 | ₹2 crore |
| Kerala | 7 | ₹30 – 50 | ₹25 Crore |
| Madhya Pradesh | 3 | N/A | ₹10 lakh |
| Maharashtra | 18 | ₹10 – 200 | ₹1 crore |
| Manipur | 5 | ₹6 | ₹27 lakh |
| Meghalaya | 7 | ₹29 Lakhs | ₹29 lakh |
| Mizoram | 3 | ₹6 | ₹10 lakh |
| Nagaland | 4 | ₹6 – 10 | ₹1 crore |
| Punjab | 2 | ₹10 | ₹5 crore |
| Sikkim | 3 | ₹10 | ₹19 Lakh |
| West Bengal | 3 | ₹2 – 10 | ₹1 crore |
Types of Government Lottery Draws
There are two types of draws in any govt lottery:
Weekly Draws
Weekly draws are held once or several times a week, offering participants to win smaller prizes more frequently.
Bumper draws
Bumper lottery draws only happen a few times during the year, usually around festivals like Diwali, Holi, Christmas, or New Year. These draws offer significantly higher prizes.
How to Buy Government Lottery Tickets
You can only buy govt lottery tickets from authorised vendors. Government lotteries are only sold as physical paper tickets.
Follow these steps to purchase a government lottery ticket:
- Visit the official site of the state lottery department to check the available lottery schemes.
- Choose a lottery of your preference.
- Find an authorised lottery dealer selling tickets for that lottery.
- Add your name and address details on the back of the ticket.
- Check your ticket on the draw date to see if you have won.
How to Check Indian State Lottery Results
Here are some ways to check the results of the Indian state lottery.
- Official site of State Lottery Department
- Leading Local newspapers
- Youtube live streams
How to Claim Winnings from Government Lotteries
These are the steps to claim your winnings from a government lottery:
- Take a physical copy of the claim application form.
- Fill out the form, and attach the winning ticket with your signature.
- Get two passport-size photos of yourself and get them notarized to confirm your authenticity.
- Take a scanned copy of your PAN card and attest it.
- You will also need an identity proof document such as your driving license, voter ID card, etc.
Can I Play Government Lottery in India Online?
No, you cannot play or buy tickets to government lotteries online. If you hear about an online government lottery site, you should know it is fake.
In the past, Playwin- under the authorisation of the Sikkim government, offered online lottery in 2001. But the system was closed in 2019. You can purchase tickets for only international lotteries online, such as Powerball, Eurojackpot, Mega Millions, etc.
Can I Play Government Lottery in India for Free?
No, there are no free tickets given for government lottery games. You will always have to purchase tickets to participate.
FAQ
Do I have to Pay Tax on Government Lottery Winnings?
Yes, winnings over ₹10,000 are subject to a 30% tax.
Which Was the First Indian State Lottery?
Kerala was the first state to introduce a state lottery in the 1960s.
Which is the Biggest State Lottery in India?
The Thiruvonam Bumper Lottery is the biggest government lottery run by the Kerala state government.
Which is the Best State Lottery in India?
The Kerala state lottery is the best, with Bumper prizes going up to ₹25 crores.
Which Was the First State to Ban Lottery in India?
Andhra Pradesh was the first state to ban lottery in 1968.
What is Dear State Lottery?
The Dear lottery is a company that distributes government lottery tickets, and it was founded in 1991. It is a member of the Asia Pacific Lottery Association and the World Lottery Association. It was the first company to telecast live draws on TV.