In India a lottery is legal only when a state government runs it. Here is how the main state lotteries work, when Kerala draws, and how to check a result without being fooled by the fakes that copy them.
Which states run lotteries?
Each state decides for itself under the Lotteries (Regulation) Act, 1998. States commonly listed as running or permitting state lotteries include Kerala, Punjab, Sikkim, Nagaland, West Bengal, Maharashtra, Goa, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya and Mizoram. Lists differ between sources and policies change, so confirm the current position on the state’s official lottery website before relying on it. Many other states, including Tamil Nadu, ban lotteries outright and also ban the sale of other states’ tickets.
Kerala State Lotteries: the model case
Kerala banned private lotteries in 1967 and started its own the same year — the first state lottery of its kind in India, proposed by then Finance Minister P. K. Kunju to create jobs and raise revenue. It is now run under the state’s Taxes Department.
- Seven weekly draws, one a day, usually at 3 pm at Gorky Bhavan, Thiruvananthapuram.
- Weekly tickets cost ₹50 with a first prize of ₹1 crore.
- Results are published online and in the Kerala Government Gazette the same day.
- Welfare link: tax revenue from ticket sales supports welfare schemes, including the Karunya scheme for patients with serious illness.
- Sales are on paper only, through authorised agents in Kerala. There is no official online sale.
The weekly schedule
| Day | Weekly lottery |
|---|---|
| Monday | Bhagyathara |
| Tuesday | Sthree Sakthi |
| Wednesday | Dhanalekshmi |
| Thursday | Karunya Plus |
| Friday | Suvarna Keralam |
| Saturday | Karunya |
| Sunday | Samrudhi |
Names and prize structures are revised from time to time and draws can move on public holidays. Our home page shows today’s scheduled name automatically.
Bumper seasons
Six bumper lotteries a year carry much larger first prizes — recently in the ₹10–30 crore range — and dearer tickets (around ₹500 for Thiruvonam). They are usually drawn in these months:
| Bumper | Usual draw month |
|---|---|
| Christmas–New Year | January |
| Summer | March |
| Vishu | May |
| Monsoon | July |
| Thiruvonam | September |
| Pooja | November |
Bumper seasons are also peak season for fake ticket sellers on WhatsApp and social media. If you are offered a “bumper ticket” online, it is not genuine.
Other state lotteries
Nagaland runs several draws a day, with results released as official documents after each draw. Punjab is known for festival bumper draws through the year. Sikkim and West Bengal also run state schemes. Each state publishes its own rules, prize structures, claim forms and deadlines — always read the official version for the ticket you hold.
How to verify a result safely
- Check only the state’s official lottery website or Government Gazette. Forwarded PDFs, YouTube “live results” and screenshots can be edited.
- Match the full ticket code — the series letters and the number — not just the last few digits.
- Sign your name and address on the back of a winning ticket straight away.
- Claim through the official process only. Nobody legitimate will call you first or charge a fee to “verify” a ticket.
Red flags around state lotteries
- “Kerala lottery online” websites and WhatsApp sellers.
- An “agent” asking for money to release or speed up your prize.
- “Guessing” or “sure number” offers for state lottery draws.
- Result PDFs sent by strangers with a link to “claim now”.
Won something? Read how to claim safely and work out what you’ll actually receive.
Sources
- Kerala State Lotteries, Wikipedia
- Kerala State Lotteries Department (official)
- Gambling in India, Wikipedia