The Directorate of Nagaland State Lotteries declared the results for all three daily draws on October 22, 2025, handing out a staggering ₹1 crore prize to the lucky holder of ticket number 41G 30005 in the 8:00 PM Dear Pelican draw. The announcement, made from its headquarters in Kohima, Nagaland, sent ripples through households across northeastern India — where a single ticket costing just ₹6 can change a family’s future overnight. With over 2.5 million tickets sold daily and prize money totaling ₹15 million in revenue each day, the Nagaland lottery isn’t just a game of chance — it’s a financial lifeline for many.
Winning Numbers Across All Three Draws
The Dear Indus (1:00 PM), Dear Hill (6:00 PM), and Dear Pelican (8:00 PM) draws followed the same prize structure, but only the 8 PM draw produced the top prize. The first prize winner of ₹1,00,00,000 was announced with the number 41G 30005. Ten second-prize winners received ₹9,000 each, with numbers: 92297, 20030, 99173, 94287, 92907, 25101, 34718, 52045, 86552, and 10603. Third prize went to holders of 10 four-digit numbers like 9602, 0977, and 3501 — each earning ₹450. Fourth prize winners, with numbers like 2494, 1309, and 0001, walked away with ₹250. A consolation prize of ₹1,000 was distributed to multiple ticket holders across all draws.
What’s remarkable isn’t just the size of the prize, but how accessible it is. A ₹6 ticket, often bought from a roadside vendor in Dimapur or a small shop in Zunheboto, carries the same odds as a ₹100 ticket elsewhere. The system, designed to be inclusive, has become a cultural fixture — especially in rural areas where formal employment is scarce.
How to Claim Your Prize — And What Not to Do
Winners under ₹10,000 can claim their money directly from any authorized retailer with the original, signed ticket. But those who hit the jackpot? They must travel to Kohima — or one of five nodal offices in Kolkata, Mumbai, Ludhiana, Gangtok, or Meghalaya — within 30 days of the draw. The claim requires a completed form, original ticket, government ID, PAN card, two passport photos, and bank details. No digital shortcuts. No email claims. No online verification alone.
The Directorate of Nagaland State Lotteries has issued multiple warnings about fake websites. Sites like nagaland-lottery.net or sambad-results.in are scams. Only three domains are official: www.nagalandlotteries.com, www.lotterysambad.com, and www.nagalandlotterysambad.com. Even then, the site only displays results — it doesn’t process claims. That’s still done the old-fashioned way: in person, with paper, and with proof.
Why This Lottery Keeps Running — And Why It Matters
The lottery isn’t just entertainment. It’s revenue. According to official figures, 55% of daily sales go to prize money, 25% to the Nagaland state exchequer, 15% to administration, and 5% to social welfare — funding everything from school supplies in remote villages to health camps in the hills. That ₹3.75 million daily going to the state? It helps pay teachers, repair roads, and subsidize electricity in places where the grid barely reaches.
Since 2010, the lottery has run daily. The three-draw model — 1 PM, 6 PM, 8 PM — was introduced in 2015 to catch different segments: office workers, homemakers, and night-shift laborers. The 8 PM draw, in particular, draws the biggest crowds. It’s when families gather, phones buzz, and the whole neighborhood leans in to hear the numbers read aloud on the official YouTube channel, which streams live with video ID QY6QLZPTRFw for the October 22 draw.
Legally, the lottery operates under a 13-state exemption granted by the central government. While the Supreme Court has questioned whether such lotteries violate gambling laws, the Court has consistently upheld Nagaland’s right to run them — citing state sovereignty over public revenue and social welfare. It’s a rare case where a state-run gambling system is seen not as exploitation, but as empowerment.
What Comes Next — And What to Watch For
The next draw is scheduled for October 23, 2025, at 1:00 PM, 6:00 PM, and 8:00 PM IST — same as always. But whispers are growing. Some state officials are considering adding a Sunday jackpot draw, with a ₹2 crore prize pool. Others are quietly testing QR-code verification on physical tickets, though no digital sales are planned. The Directorate insists: no app. No e-ticket. No online purchase. The paper ticket remains sacred.
Still, the real story isn’t in the numbers. It’s in the quiet moments — the mother who bought a ticket for her son’s college fees, the farmer who paid his crop loan, the widow who used her ₹450 prize to buy medicine. This isn’t just a lottery. It’s a social contract. And for now, it’s working.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if my Nagaland Lottery ticket is genuine?
Only tickets purchased from authorized retailers — usually small shops with the official Directorate logo — are valid. Fake tickets often have blurry printing, incorrect fonts, or missing security holograms. The Directorate confirms that no digital tickets exist, so if someone sells you a PDF or QR code, it’s a scam. Always check the ticket’s serial number against the official website’s published draw list.
Can I claim my prize if I’m not from Nagaland?
Yes. The lottery is legal in 13 Indian states, and winners from any of them can claim prizes. However, claims above ₹10,000 must be submitted in person at one of the five nodal offices: Kohima, Kolkata, Mumbai, Ludhiana, or Gangtok. You’ll need your original ticket, PAN card, and ID — regardless of where you live. No exceptions.
Why is the prize so high compared to the ticket price?
The ₹1 crore prize is designed to create hope — and economic mobility — in regions with limited formal income. The lottery’s structure ensures that 55% of revenue goes back as prizes, far higher than most state-run lotteries. This isn’t about profit; it’s about redistribution. A single winner can inject ₹1 crore into a local economy, paying off debts, starting businesses, or funding education — something no microloan program could match.
What happens if I lose my ticket?
You lose your claim. The Directorate states clearly: the physical ticket is the only proof of ownership. Even if you have a photo of it, a receipt, or a witness, they won’t pay out. That’s why many winners keep their tickets in safety deposit boxes or with trusted family members. If you buy a ticket, treat it like cash — because in many homes, it is.
Are the draws truly random and transparent?
Yes. Draws are conducted under CCTV surveillance with independent observers present. The balls are changed monthly, and the machine is inspected before each draw. The live YouTube streams — archived and timestamped — are publicly accessible. While fraud claims occasionally surface, no verified case of manipulation has been proven since the system’s inception in 2010.
Why hasn’t the lottery gone fully digital?
The Directorate says it’s about inclusion. Over 60% of ticket buyers in Nagaland live in areas with unreliable internet or no smartphones. A paper ticket doesn’t need Wi-Fi. It doesn’t need a bank app. It doesn’t need literacy. For many, it’s the only financial instrument they trust. Going digital would risk excluding the very people the lottery was meant to help.