Matka (Satta Matka)
Officially Satta Matka
INDIAN LOTTERY-STYLE GAMBLING GAME originated in MUMBAI (BOMBAY) 1960s — players bet on RANDOM NUMBERS drawn from an EARTHEN POT ('MATKA' = pot in Hindi). Originally involved betting on OPENING + CLOSING RATES of NEW YORK COTTON EXCHANGE (1961-1970); later replaced with 3 NUMBERS drawn from KHIP (chit) card slips. Illegal in India but WIDELY PLAYED in underground gambling circles + increasingly ONLINE. Famous 'MATKA KINGS' Kalyanji Bhagat + Ratan Khatri built empires 1960s-90s.
Quick facts
Category
Casino & Gambling
Type
Individual
Players
1–1000
Duration
~1 min
Where played
indoor
Country of origin
🇮🇳 India
Estimated origin
Started 1961 by Kalyanji Bhagat + later Ratan Khatri in Worli, Mumbai — betting on New York Cotton Exchange opening + closing rates; when NY Cotton stopped Indian broadcasts 1970, they replaced with random 3-digit draws from numbered chits in a matka (earthen pot); still illegal per Indian Public Gaming Act 1867 but widespread + moving online in 2010s+.
Olympic
No
Popularity
regional
How it works
Objective
PREDICT the SINGLE-DIGIT numbers to be drawn from the matka; higher accuracy = higher payout multiplier.
Rules
Basic rules
Player chooses 3 numbers 0-9 for OPEN + 3 for CLOSE (six total)
Signature 3+3 number bets.
OPEN pattern: 3 numbers drawn from matka + their SUM's ones-digit produced a 4th number
Signature 3-draw + sum-digit = 4th number.
CLOSE pattern: same — 3 chits drawn + sum's ones-digit = 4th
Signature repeat for Close.
PANEL (JODI, PATTI): PANNA = 3-digit combo; JODI = full 4-digit pair (Open-Close); SINGLE = one digit
Signature bet-type hierarchy.
PAYOUTS: SINGLE = 9x bet; JODI = 90x; PANNA = 150x; MAX 999x on high-risk multi-tickets
Signature 9x/90x/150x/999x paytable.
TYPICAL DRAW SCHEDULE: KALYAN MATKA 9:30 AM open, 8:30 PM close; MILAN, RAJDHANI, TIME BAZAR + others staggered
Signature named draw schedules.
ENFORCEMENT: illegal in India under Public Gaming Act 1867 + state laws; police crackdowns periodic; MOVING ONLINE / OFFSHORE to avoid enforcement
Signature illegal-but-tolerated status.
Scoring
9x-90x-150x-999x depending on bet complexity; house edge very high but individual payouts massive.
Win condition · Player's chosen numbers match the drawn results.
Equipment
MATKA (earthen pot) traditionally; MODERN: chit slips + rotating drum
Signature matka pot.
NUMBERED CHITS 0-9 for random draw
Signature numbered chits.
PLAYER'S BET SLIP with chosen numbers
Signature bet slip.
BOOKIE'S LEDGER + RESULT-DECLARATION MEDIUM (SMS + WhatsApp + website in modern era)
Signature bookie infrastructure.
Terminology
- Matka
- Hindi for earthen pot — original draw vessel.
- Satta
- Hindi for 'gambling' or 'wager'.
- Jodi
- Full 4-digit Open-Close combo bet.
- Panna / Patti
- 3-digit combo bet.
- Single
- Single-digit 0-9 bet.
- Kalyan / Milan / Rajdhani
- Names of major daily draw markets.
Major competitions
No formal competitions; illegal underground gambling network
n/a · India + South Asian diaspora · since 1961
Where it is played
Governing bodies
None official — illegal under Indian Public Gaming Act 1867
Founded 1867 · India (regulatory framework)
Famous names & records
Famous athletes
- Kalyanji Bhagat (IN, 'Matka King' 1960s founder)
- Ratan Khatri (IN, 'Matka King' 1970s-90s dominant bookie)
Sources & provenance
- Wikipedia — Matka gambling— Wikipedia
- The Hindu — Matka King coverage— The Hindu