How to Play Lottery in India: Legal States, Popular Lotteries and Online Guide
If you want to try your luck but first learn what to watch out for when playing the lottery, or understand which lotteries you can actually play, this guide is more complete than most online information.
In Which States Lottery Is Legal in India?
The legality of lotteries in India varies by state. Currently, lotteries are allowed in 13 states, regulated by the state governments:
Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Goa, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Punjab, Sikkim, and West Bengal.
If you live in a state where lotteries are banned, you can still buy physical tickets by traveling to a state where they are legal.
Is it legal to buy lottery tickets online in India?
Most state lotteries in India prohibit online sales to prevent money laundering and gambling addiction.
However, players can legally participate through international online lottery websites, as these draws take place outside India and are not regulated by Indian law.
How to Play Lottery in India
To play wisely, you need to understand the lottery structure, ticket prices, betting methods, and prize pools.
Understanding Lottery Structure
The lottery structure tells you which numbers are on the ticket, the size of the number pool, and whether there are any special numbers.
This information helps you plan your strategy, such as choosing hot or cold numbers.
Each lottery has its own format:
- Tickets have a fixed number range, sometimes including letters.
- Larger ranges offer higher jackpots but lower winning chances; smaller ranges increase your odds but usually have smaller prizes.
- International lotteries let players choose numbers freely, while most Indian state lotteries use fixed or random numbers.
- Indian lotteries usually have a single-pool system, where players pick numbers from one pool.
Choosing Ticket Price
Lottery is essentially using a small investment for a chance at a big prize.
- Low-priced tickets are suitable for long-term, frequent plays to accumulate winning chances.
- High-priced tickets usually offer bigger prizes, ideal for special occasions.
- In India, tickets priced below ₹100 often have more frequent draws and more prize categories.
Betting Methods
- Official State Lottery: Usually requires cash and must be purchased at authorized retail outlets. Players can only select from the available ticket numbers, with limited flexibility.
- Online Lottery: Depends on the platform. Most support bank transfers, UPI, Paytm, PhonePe, and other payment options. Online platforms often offer more flexible options, such as choosing more numbers, system bets, or participating in jackpot pools.
Fixed Prizes vs. Jackpot Pools
Physical lottery tickets usually offer fixed prizes, with transparent draws that can often be watched live.
State online lotteries and international lotteries generally use jackpot pools, where the top prize grows over time, suitable for players chasing big winnings.
Popular Legal Lotteries in India
Dear Lottery
Dear Lottery is primarily operated by the Nagaland state government and collaborates with Sikkim, West Bengal, and Punjab to issue tickets in multiple states.
- Ticket price: originally ₹6, increased to ₹7 in 2025
- Draws: multiple times daily (morning, afternoon, evening)
- Note: One of the most popular lotteries in India
| Series | 1st Prize | Ticket Price |
|---|---|---|
| Dear Morning / Day / Evening | ₹1 Crore | ₹7 |
| 50 Weekly | ₹21 Lakhs | ₹50 |
| 100 Weekly | ₹25 Lakhs | ₹100 |
| 20 Monthly | ₹5 Lakhs | ₹20 |
| 50 Monthly | ₹7 Lakks | ₹50 |
| 100 Monthly | ₹15 Lakhs | ₹100 |
| 200 Monthly | ₹1.5 Crores | ₹200 |
| Bumper（Diwali, New Year, Holi, Rakhi） | ₹2.5 to ₹25 Crores | ₹500 |
Read More: Dear Lottery India Guide – Win ₹1 Crore with Just ₹7!
Rajshree Lottery
Rajshree Lottery is run by the Goa state government, offering weekly and monthly draws.
- Ticket price starting from ₹10
- Top prize: ₹10 Lakhs
| Series | 1st Prize | Ticket Price |
|---|---|---|
| 10 Evening | ₹10 Lakhs | ₹10 |
| 50 Weekly | ₹21 Lakhs | ₹50 |
| 50 Monthly | ₹30 Lakhs | ₹50 |
| 80 Monthly | ₹40 Lakhs | ₹80 |
| 100 Monthly | ₹50 Lakhs | ₹100 |
| 200 Monthly | ₹75 Lakhs | ₹200 |
| 250 Monthly | ₹1 Crore | ₹250 |
| 500 Monthly | ₹1.25 Crores | ₹500 |
Kerala Lottery
Kerala Lottery is India’s oldest and most trusted state lottery, with daily draws in various series.
- Ticket price: ₹50 per ticket
| Series | 1st Prize | Ticket Price |
|---|---|---|
| Bhagyathara | ₹1 Crore | ₹50 |
| SthreeSakthi | ₹1 Crore | ₹50 |
| Dhanalekshmi | ₹1 Crore | ₹50 |
| Karunya Plus | ₹1 Crore | ₹50 |
| Suvarana Keralam | ₹1 Crore | ₹50 |
| Karunya | ₹1 Crore | ₹50 |
| Samrudhi | ₹1 Crore | ₹50 |
| Bumper （Onam, Vishu, Christmas） | ₹10 to ₹25 Crores | ₹50–₹500 |
Read More: Kerala Lottery Strategy Tips: Turn Small Bets into Big Wins
Easy Lottery
Easy Lottery is Meghalaya state’s first online lottery, with daily draws. Full online process: purchase, draw, and prize claim.
- Ticket price: ₹100 per ticket
| Series | 1st Prize | Ticket Price |
|---|---|---|
| Sweet Dreamz | ₹10 Lakhs | ₹100 |
| Multiwin | ₹1 Lakh | ₹100 |
Lotto India
Lotto India is an online lottery accessible to Indian players worldwide.
- Ticket price: ₹100
- Top prize: ₹10 Crore
- Gameplay: select 5 numbers from 1–50 + 1 Bonus Ball from 1–5
- Draws: every Tuesday and Friday
| Prize Level | Prize |
|---|---|
| Match 6 + Bonus | ₹10 Crore |
| Match 6 | ₹10 Lakh |
| Match 5 + Bonus | ₹1 Lakh |
| Match 5 | ₹50,000 |
| Match 4 + Bonus | ₹4,000 |
| Match 4 | ₹2,000 |
| Match 3 + Bonus | ₹400 |
| Match 3 | ₹200 |
| Match 2 + Bonus | ₹100 |
| Match 2 | ₹50 |
Global Lottery
Global Lottery allows Indian players to participate in international lotteries without traveling abroad.
- Larger jackpot pools than Indian lotteries due to global participation
- Higher difficulty: number pools usually start at 60+, with an additional bonus number zone, creating more combinations
| Lottery | Minimum Jackpot | Ticket Price |
|---|---|---|
| PowerBall | ₹340 Crores | ₹300 |
| Mega Millions | ₹430 Crores | ₹700 |
| Malamaal Daily | ₹1.2 Crores | ₹50 |
| Cricket Lotto | ₹3.6 Crores | ₹80 |
| Gullak Gold | ₹2 Crores | ₹60 |
| Cash4Life | ₹80,000 | ₹200 |
How to Buy Lottery in India
You must be at least 18 years old to purchase a lottery ticket in India. While underage players usually face no criminal penalties, any winnings will be forfeited.
Not all states allow lotteries—lotteries are completely banned in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Telangana.
Offline Lottery
- Find an authorized retailer – Visit a government-authorized lottery shop in a state where lotteries are allowed.
- Choose a lottery – Pick from various state-run lotteries. Ticket prices typically range from ₹7 to ₹500.
- Buy and keep your ticket safe – Each ticket has a unique serial number.
- Check results – Results can be found on official websites, newspapers, or at lottery offices.
- Claim your prize – Prizes must be claimed within 30 days. Smaller prizes are paid at the retailer, while large prizes require identity verification at the state lottery office.
Online Lottery
- Pick a licensed platform – Register on an authorized online lottery platform.
- Create an account – Use your phone number to complete registration.
- Select a game – Browse available state and international lotteries.
- Choose numbers – Pick manually or use a quick-pick option.
- Make payment – Pay via UPI, net banking, credit/debit card, or e-wallets.
- Check results and claim winnings – Platforms automatically update results and deposit winnings directly into your account.
Taxes on Winnings
Lottery prizes over ₹10,000 are subject to taxation before payout:
- 30% TDS (Tax Deducted at Source)
- 4% surcharge
- Total tax rate: 31.2%
For example, if you win ₹10,000, ₹3,120 will be deducted as tax, leaving ₹6,880 in your hands.
Some international online platforms may not deduct tax upfront, but withdrawal fees might apply.
Online Lottery Platform Comparison
| Feature / Platform | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Withdrawal Speed | 10–15 minutes | 5–7 business days | Two weeks |
| Platform License | Curaçao | Gibraltar | Curaçao |
| Minimum Deposit | 200 | 500 | 500 |
| International Lottery | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Indian Local Lottery | Yes | No | No |
| Tax on Winnings | No | Yes | Yes |
| Supports Hindi | Yes | No | Yes |
Tips for Indian Players
- Need quick withdrawals → Vegas11 Lottery is fastest
- Prefer regulated license → Lottoland Asia (Gibraltar)
- Low-budget entry → Vegas11 Lottery
- Want Indian local lotteries → Only Vegas11
- Hindi interface → Vegas11 and Lotto247
- Tax consideration → For full winnings → Vegas11
Read More: India’s no-deposit bonus casino is here—get free cash now!
Lottery Playing Strategies
1. Number Selection Tips
Choosing numbers isn’t just random. Use historical draw data for guidance: combine long-unopened numbers (cold numbers) with frequently drawn numbers (hot numbers) to make smarter selections.
2. Regular Small Bets
Place small bets regularly to increase cumulative chances of winning. This approach is safer than investing a large amount in a single draw.
3. Avoid Illegal Channels
Do not buy tickets from WhatsApp or Telegram lottery groups, as many are fake or scams. Always purchase through official authorized outlets or trusted online platforms.