Directorate of Punjab State Lotteries came into existence in the 1968 as a wing of the Finance Department with a view to curbing illegal activities like satta, matka etc and to organize lotteries, at regular intervals, so as to mobilize resources for the State Exchequer. The total staff strength of the department is around fifty. The Government of Punjab runs its lotteries strictly as per the provisions of the Lotteries (Regulations) Act 1998. Under Section 12 of the Act, the department had framed its rules i.e. Punjab State Lotteries Rules 1998.