Matka gambling or ‘satta matka’ or just ‘satta’ once upon a time was a full fledged betting and lottery game that started in the decade of 1950s in India immediately post independence of the country. It was then known as ‘ankada jugar’. Successively, it evolved over the years and became completely different from what it was in the beginning years. Hence, started being known as only ‘matka’ which stayed constant. The contemporary ‘matka gambling’ or ‘satta king’ is actually based on a random number selection and betting game.

In ‘matka gambling’ or ‘satta matka’, numbers ranging from 0 to 9 are written on pieces of paper and put into a matka or a large earthen pot. A player then draws a chit and declares the winners. Over the years, this practice evolved but the name ‘matka’ stuck on.

In the current era, three numbers are drawn from a pack of cards. The player who wins money from the ‘matka gambling’ is called ‘matka king’.

The History of ‘Matka Gambling’ or ‘Satta Matka’:

Matka gambling or ‘satta matka’ originated in the decade of 1950s when people placed bets on the opening and closing rates of cotton that were regulated to the Bombay Cotton Exchange from the New York Stock Exchange through teleprinters.

In 1961, the New York Stock Exchange stopped this practice that caused gamblers to look for alternative ways to keep the ‘satta matka’ business thriving. The 1980s and 1990s saw the zenith of the matka gambling business.

How Is ‘Matka Gambling’ Played?

In ‘matka gambling’ or ‘satta matka’, numbers ranging from 0 to 9 are written on pieces of paper and put into a matka or a large earthen pot. One player then draws a chit and declares the winning numbers. Over the period of years, as times evolved, this practice evolved too. But the name ‘matka’ remained constant.

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Contemporarily, three numbers are drawn from a pack of playing cards. The player who wins gets a great deal of money from the ‘matka gambling’ and is then crowned the ‘matka king’.

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Disclaimer: Please note that ‘matka gambling’, ‘satta gambling’ or any allied betting games have been illegal in India since the era of the Britshers when the British Government introduced the Public Gambling Act in the year 1867.