Satta King is a popular lottery game played predominantly in India. It involves betting on randomly drawn numbers to win monetary prizes. While Satta King is based on pure chance, it remains widely popular despite being illegal in the country.
History and Origins
The origins of Satta King trace back to the 1960s when it started as ‘Ankada Jugar’ in Mumbai. In 1962, Kalyanji Bhagat began the Worli matka, one of the first iterations of the game as we know today. Rattan Khatri introduced the New Worli matka in 1964, with slight changes to the rules.
Over the years, Matka gambling spread to other parts of India and became known as ‘Satta Matka,’ deriving from the Hindi words for ‘gambling’ (satta) and ‘pot’ (matka). The ‘king’ was added later – referring to the person who won the matka.
How Satta King is Played
Satta King is centered around guessing numbers to bet on. Bookies set random numbers, between 00 and 99, and participants bet on what numbers will be drawn. Bets are placed on single numbers, pairs of numbers, or a range of numbers.
There are several varieties of Satta King:
- Disawar – The numbers are drawn in Mumbai and betting takes place in Jaipur.
- Gali – Originated in Mumbai drawing numbers from Kurla area.
- Ghaziabad – Drawn and played in Ghaziabad, UP.
- Faridabad – Popular in Haryana state.
The actual process goes as follows:
- Players contact a bookie to place bets on numbers between 00 and 99.
- The bookie provides a betting receipt with the numbers and amount paid.
- Numbers are randomly drawn from a pot, known as a ‘matka’.
- Winning bets are those where the gambler guessed the drawn number correctly.
- Bookies calculate and distribute rewards per the winning number(s).
The winning amounts depend on the type of bet placed. Full, final, and half payouts are common. For example, betting ₹100 on a single digit with a full payout gives ₹900 in winnings (minus the original ₹100 bet).
Why is Satta King Popular in India?
Despite being illegal, several factors drive Satta King’s popularity across India:
- Simplicity – It is easy to understand and play. Participants only guess numbers between 00 to 99.
- Higher Winnings – The payouts are significantly higher compared to legal lottery games. Winnings up to 90 times the wager are possible.
- Wide Availability – Bookies are easy to find, with both local agents and online apps facilitating betting.
- Hope of Quick Riches – The game represents a chance to win fortunes and escape poverty. The large payouts fuel aspirational hopes.
However, the odds are overwhelmingly stacked against players in the long run. The unfavorable odds, illegality, and gambling addiction make Satta King highly controversial in India. Law enforcement routinely cracks down on Satta operators, albeit with limited success in eradicating it.
Legal Status of Satta King in India
Satta King is illegal across most of India under the Public Gambling Act 1867. Certain exceptions apply in a few states.
- Legal in Sikkim and Goa under regulated premises.
- Partially allowed in Maharashtra and Kerala in some forms.
- Assam had legalized some forms of betting until a 2021 ban.
Despite the broad ban, the game continues to be played surreptitiously due to its rampant popularity. Law enforcement authorities often raid gambling hubs and arrest bookies and gamblers. But the drive against Satta King has so far not succeeded in stopping its proliferation.
Conclusion
In summary, Satta King is a lottery-style betting game of chance with origins in 1960s Mumbai. It gained popularity across India over the decades, amassing millions of players attracted by the simple format, big winnings, and accessibility through local bookies. However, Satta King remains predominantly illegal with only a few exceptions. The Lucknow police recently arrested Satta Kingpin Sanjay Chauhan and busted a ₹200 crore betting racket, underscoring the scale of operations. Despite crackdowns and bans, the gambling phenomenon persists as a powerful part of India’s betting landscape.
