If you play the lottery in India, you have likely seen the names Dhankesari, Lottery Sambad, and Dear Lottery.
Many people get confused and wonder: Are these different lottery games run by different states? The simple answer is no. They all refer to the exact same state government lotteries (mainly from Nagaland and West Bengal). The difference is just in the branding, the language, and how you check the results.
Let's break down exactly what each name means so you know exactly what you are playing.
| Name | What it means | Main Region |
|---|---|---|
| Dear Lottery | The official government brand | Nagaland & Sikkim |
| Lottery Sambad | The old newspaper format | West Bengal & East India |
| Dhankesari | The digital online platform | All India (Online) |
1. Dear Lottery (The Official Name)
Dear Lottery is the real, official name given by the state governments of Nagaland and Sikkim for their paper lottery schemes.
If you buy a ₹6 paper ticket, the name at the top will be "Dear" followed by a river or bird name—like Dear Dwarka, Dear Godavari, or Dear Flamingo. The top prize is ₹1 Crore, and draws happen three times a day.
2. Lottery Sambad (The Newspaper Format)
In Bengali, the word "Sambad" means Newspaper. Long before smartphones existed, lottery results used to be printed on large sheets of paper that looked exactly like a newspaper.
People in West Bengal and Assam would buy these printed sheets from local shops to check their winning numbers. Even today, when you download a PDF result, it looks like a newspaper cutting. That is why people still call it Lottery Sambad.
3. Dhankesari (The Online Website)
Dhankesari is basically the internet version of Lottery Sambad. As everyone moved online, websites like Dhankesari.pw became the fastest way to check results.
Instead of waiting for a newspaper, you can open the website and see the 1 PM, 6 PM, and 8 PM winning numbers instantly. We also give you high-quality images and PDFs to download.
4. Daily Draw Timings
No matter what you call it, the timings are exactly the same every day:
1:00 PM
Morning Draw
Nagaland State. Results arrive by 1:30 PM.
6:00 PM
Evening Draw
West Bengal State. Results arrive by 6:30 PM.
8:00 PM
Night Draw
Nagaland State. Results arrive by 8:30 PM.
5. Prize Money & Taxes
Because it's the same game, the prize money is also the same:
- 1st Prize: ₹1 Crore (₹1,00,00,000)
- 2nd Prize: ₹9,000
- 3rd Prize: ₹500
- 4th Prize: ₹250
- 5th Prize: ₹120
- Consolation: ₹1,000
Important: If you win more than ₹10,000, the government will cut 30% TDS (tax) before giving you the money. This is the same for all state lotteries.
Common Questions
Are these three different lotteries?+
Can I check old results here?+
Is buying a lottery ticket legal?+
Summary: Don't get confused by the different names. Dear Lottery, Lottery Sambad, and Dhankesari are all the same game. Just remember to check your daily numbers on Dhankesari.pw!