Matka (also known as Satta Matka) is a gambling game where players predict the value of three numbers drawn from ten from a pot. If they match 2 or more numbers, they win.
The game originated in India before 1947. Players would generate the result using random numbers from the opening and closing rates of cotton transmitted between the New York Cotton Exchange and the Bombay Cotton Exchange. However, the number generation quickly changed to using scraps of paper with numbers placed in an earthenware bowl (the Matka), and sometimes, players used a deck of cards to generate the three random numbers.
The modern equilivant now uses a Bowl containing 10 numbered balls, 0-9, from which three get selected. Players bet on what those three balls will be, and if they match with two or more, they win a payout. There’s also a second chance payout for a fourth number, calculated from the last digit of the player’s balls, equalling the last digit of the total drawn from the Matka.
Ezugi is the first live casino provider to offer this live gambling game online.
In this article, I will explain how to play Matka live, look at betting strategies, and demonstrate the game in my video review.
Ezugi Matka Live uses a gold and purple bowl (Matka), ten balls numbered 0 to 9 and a golden ladle to scoop the balls from the bowl.
The bowls’ opening faces away from the dealer, so he’s unable to see the balls as he retrieves them with the ladle.
The bowl sits in the centre of the table in a studio decorated with an Asian theme in a nod to its Indian heritage.
Matka is a game that an unlimited number of players can play simultaneously.
Players pick three numbers from 0 to 9 and hope the dealer picks two or more of the same numbers from the Matka bowl for a winning payout. The three numbers are also totalled, giving a fourth number, known as the second chance, which, if matched with the dealer’s fourth number, pays 1:1. For Example, the player picks 4, 6 and 9, which makes a total of 19, so the players’ fourth number is 9.
Matka is played in the following sequence:
You can pick three numbers from zero to nine by tapping the screen over the numbers you want to select.
The bet amount is for the game round, not each number.
Once you select your three numbers, they are locked in, with the fourth number calculated from the sum of the three you’ve chosen.
For Example, if you choose 3, 8, and 5, the sum is 16, and the fourth number comes from the last digit—6.
Once betting time has closed, the bowl starts to spin, mixing up the ten numbered balls.
The Bowl stops for the Dealer to withdraw three balls.
The dealer picks three balls from the bowl using a golden ladle. The bowl is tilted slightly away from the dealer, so they can’t see the balls they’re picking.
The chosen balls are placed beside he ball, and the playing interface is updated with the Ball values and the value of the fourth number.
Players win if they have two or more matched numbers with the dealer.
They also win if their fourth or second chance number equals the dealer’s value.
Players can win either of the outcomes. Only the matching number bet pays if the player wins with both.
There are two functions in the playing interface that are worth pointing out—the Auto Number Selection and Auto Play.
The Auto Number Selection can be accessed in the Settings.
If the selection is set to On, if you fail to select three numbers before the betting time runs out, the game will pick three random numbers for you.
If it’s switched off and you’ve failed to make a number selection, your bet is returned, and you take no part in that game round.
If you like to play the same numbers every game round, Auto Play is a great feature that allows you to repeat the same bet amount with the same numbers for a set number of game rounds.
You have options of 5, 10, 25, 50 and 100 rounds.
Autoplay will stop if you make any changes or the number of rounds has run out. This is an excellent feature for managing your bankroll.
No result data is provided in the playing interface apart from the current game round. So, if you like to use stats to work out your betting strategy, you will be disappointed.
However, let’s look at the game’s math to see what we can learn.
So, knowing this, you need to set your expectations for how often you’ll win.
By looking at these figures and comparing them with the payouts, you can immediately see how Ezugi makes money from the game.
Playing strategies for Matka is challenging, especially as it’s a random game, and you understand the maths and chances of something happening.
As mentioned above, the chance of getting a two-number match for a 3:1 payout is 17.5%. Put another way, that’s every 5.71 games. So it takes 5.71 tries, and when you get it, you get a 3:1 payout. It doesn’t take a genius to see that you’re on to a loser.
It gets worse with a three-ball match, as that will happen less than once in a hundred. And if you’re lucky to get it, you’ll be paid the princely sum of 8:1!
So, if you’re looking for a strategy, I can offer two pieces of advice.
There is no strategy to win at Matka.
Ezugi Matka is the only version of this game available on the market. BetGames used to offer Satta Matka, which used Cards but was discontinued in 2023.
The game’s presentation is lovely. I like how the bowl is slanted and spins to mix the balls, and the overall ambience of the studio is gorgeous.
The random part of the game is picking the balls. Using the ladle is an accident waiting to happen, and I’m already wondering how often the dealer will drop the ball, either onto the table or back into the bowl. It’s going to happen—it’s just a matter of when!
The game’s concept is also good, but that’s where it ends for me. It’s too simple, and the poor return on matching numbers is another turnoff.
Matka is not a game I’ll be playing again.
Unless this game is personally meaningful, I recommend you play something else that offers a better return. Perhaps Fan Tan?
Matka is an ancient Indian game where players bet that the three numbers they pick will match two or more numbers drawn from a bowl.
The RTP of Ezugi Matka is 95.83%.
A bowl (the Matka) and ten numbered balls (0 to 9) are needed to play. An optional ladle picks the balls from the bowl, but a hand can be used instead.
An unlimited number of players can play Ezugi Matka. Each player picks their own numbers, and the dealer’s numbers are matched against them.
There is no strategy for playing Matka. Pick numbers at random, or use your favourite numbers. It doesn’t matter.
You can play at most casinos that have Ezugi Live Casino Games.