The advancement in digital communication technologies enables players to play a variety of lottery games over the internet. The new age players in India leverage websites and mobile apps to purchase international lottery tickets and play international lottery games. At the same time, many players take advantage of websites to play conventional lottery systems like Satta Matka in a safe and hassle-free way.
Satta Matka is one of the conventional lottery systems whose popularity has remained intact over decades. The lottery system was conceptualized and launched during the British Raj. Hence, its legality of Satta game is determined based on a legislation passed during the British Rule – the Public Gambling Act of 1867.
Pakistan decided to repeal the Public Gambling Act of 1867 after independence. But the Public Gambling Act of 1867 is still valid in India as a central law. The government penalizes both first time offenders and regular offenders according to the provisions of the Public Gambling Act of 1867.
Hence, a player participating in Matka draws might be punished with both fine and rigorous imprisonment. However, there is no blanket lottery ban in India. Some states have banned sale of lottery tickets completely, whereas lottery games are hugely popular in specific states like Kerala and Maharashtra.
The Matka draws mostly take place in various districts of Maharashtra. The state government allows lottery sale and lottery draws in Mumbai. Hence, the legality of Matka as a form of gambling differs across states. However, various forms of Satta Matka are still illegal in India under the provisions of the Public Gambling Act of 1867.
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