The Teer game is a one-of-a-kind lottery based on archery. In Meghalaya, India, teams of archers shoot dozens of arrows at a straw target, and players bet on the outcome. Punters choose a number between 00 and 99, and the winning “Teer number” is determined by the last two digits of the total arrows that hit the target. For example, if 692 arrows hit, the winning number is 92. This ancient tribal game (called Thoh Tim locally) combines skill and chance, and it’s legal and regulated by the state. In this guide, we’ll explain how Teer game works step by step, including the rules, schedule, payouts, cultural traditions, and tips for punters.
What Is the Teer Game?
Teer (Hindi for “arrow”) originated as a traditional archery contest among Khasi tribes in Meghalaya. Over time it evolved into a legal lottery run by the state. Today the Khasi Hills Archery Sports Association conducts daily Teer matches as the only permitted form of gambling in Meghalaya. Each morning (or afternoon) dozens of archers from local clubs gather at a fixed field with bamboo bows and arrows. Before the shooting begins, bettors place small bets on two-digit numbers (00–99) based on intuition or local superstition. The archers then fire hundreds of arrows at a circular hay target.
Because the result depends on archery, Teer is often described as a game of “archery, numbers and dreams”. Players even interpret dreams to pick lucky numbers – for example, seeing a snake might suggest number 07, or a boy and girl suggests 56 or 65. However, officially, the winner is simply the punter whose number matches the last two digits of the total arrows that hit the target.
How Teer Game Is Played (Step by Step)?
The daily Teer lottery follows a clear routine. Here’s how a typical round unfolds:
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Buying Tickets: Every playing day (Monday–Saturday except holidays), bettors can purchase tickets at counters from about 10:00 AM until shortly before shooting time. Each ticket lets the punter pick a two-digit number (00–99) and stake a small amount, often between ₹1 and ₹100. (Big bets do happen – counters sometimes record a ₹5 lakh wager on a single number.) Ticket sellers mark the chosen number on a small slip for the bettor.
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Archers Assemble: Around mid-afternoon, archers arrive at the field from 12 different local clubs. About 30–50 skilled archers squat in a semicircle facing a cylindrical straw target about 30–50 meters away. The clubs are distinguished by colored arrows. The Khasi Hills Archery Sports Association oversees the event. Archers typically earn a modest daily fee (around ₹300) for participating.
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First Round Shooting: On the official whistle, the first round begins. Fifty archers (approximately) each shoot 30 to 50 arrows at the target. In practice this means roughly 600–1000 arrows are fired in minutes. The round is brief and intense – officials often roll down a tarp after about 5 minutes to stop any more arrows.
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Second Round Shooting: A short while later (usually about an hour after the first), a second round is held. The same archers now shoot an additional 20 arrows each into the same target. With 50 archers, that’s around 1000 more arrows. (In Assam’s Khanapara Teer variant, the times are fixed: First Round at ~4:15 PM, Second Round at ~5:00 PM.)
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Counting Arrows: When shooting ends, officials reveal the target. They remove and count the arrows that hit the straw bale. (Misses are discarded.) Usually five counters work in teams: they bundle arrows in groups of ten and tally them carefully【16†】. The image below shows officials counting the arrows from one round – every arrow that stuck is accounted for.
After the archers fire, officials meticulously count all arrows that hit the target.
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Determining the Winning Number: Finally, the total number of arrows that hit the target is announced. For each round, bettors had placed separate bets, so they treat each round individually. The winning number for a round is the last two digits of that count. For example, if 789 arrows landed in round 1, the result is “89”; if round 2 has 567 hits, the result is “67”. The winning two-digit numbers are chalked on boards at betting counters for bettors to check.
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Payouts: Any bettor who chose the winning two-digit number in that round wins a large prize. The payoffs are fixed by law. Typically a correct single-round bet pays about 70–80 times the stake. In Meghalaya Teer (Shillong), official returns are about 80:1 – e.g. a ₹1 bet wins ₹80. If by chance one punter correctly guesses both round-1 and round-2 numbers on the same day, some Taibetan archives say the payout can reach 4000:1. (In practice, very few people attempt both, since the odds are extremely long.)
In summary, the Teer process is transparent: arrows are shot in front of spectators, then counted on camera or public boards. The entire game is based on these two short archery contests and a simple counting rule.
Daily Schedule and Variations
In Shillong (Meghalaya), the Teer shooting usually takes place in the late afternoon. Ticket sales typically end by 3:30 PM, then the first round of archery starts around 4:00–4:15 PM. The second round follows about an hour later (often near 5:15 PM). (During winter months the schedule may shift slightly earlier.) The game runs every day except Sunday and public holidays, rain or shine.
There are a few local variants: the main one is Khanapara Teer (often called Assam Teer), held near Guwahati. It follows almost identical rules (50 archers, two rounds of 30 and 20 arrows), but the results are announced at fixed times (4:15 PM and 5:00 PM daily). Note that only Meghalaya’s government-authorized Teer (Shillong and Jowai Teer) is legally recognized. Assam’s Teer is technically illegal under Assam law, so it operates more informally.
Betting, Payouts and Odds
Betting on Teer is accessible: wagers start as low as ₹1, and most punters bet under ₹100. The simplicity attracts many: you just pick any two-digit number. However, the odds are long. Since there are 100 possible outcomes (00–99), a random guess has only a 1% chance of hitting. In fact, even experienced players win roughly 1 in 80 times on average. As noted, a correct single-round prediction pays about 70–80 times the ticket price. For example, a ₹10 bet would return about ₹800 in profit plus the stake back. Guessing both rounds yields a gigantic return (on paper ~4000:1), but the chance of that is minuscule, so very few people attempt it.
Example Payout: In Shillong Teer, the official payout is set so that a ₹1 winning ticket returns ₹80 (profit ₹79) for one round. In Khanapara (Assam) Teer, payouts are usually similar (70–80×).
Cultural Traditions and Superstitions
Teer is woven into local culture. Many punters consult dream guides or numerology charts to choose numbers. For instance, some believe dreaming of money suggests betting on 25, 35 or 50, while seeing a snake suggests 07 or 27. These beliefs are anecdotal and carry no scientific basis, but they add color to the game. (There is no guaranteed “system” to win – the outcome is driven by how many arrows hit the target, which is essentially random.) The Khasi people also hold archery in high respect; Teer is featured in local festivals like Shad Suk Mynsiem as a thanksgiving ritual.
Pros and Cons of the Teer Game
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Pros:
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Cultural heritage: Teer preserves traditional archery and community spirit. It gives local archers paid practice and entertains spectators.
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Transparency: The shooting and counting happen in public view, making it fair and verifiable.
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Economic impact: Teer employs thousands (ticket sellers, archers, officials) and provides government revenue through licensing.
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Affordability: Small minimum bets allow many people to participate without spending much.
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Cons:
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Gambling risk: Despite the game’s traditional veneer, it’s still gambling. Many players lose more than they win. The odds (1 in 80 per round) mean most bettors do not profit. Participants should be aware of the risk and bet responsibly.
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No guaranteed system: There is no proven “strategy” to predict the outcome. Any method (like dream interpretation or past-result analysis) has no statistical advantage. Believing in such systems can lead to losses.
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Social issues: Critics note economic disparities: while big counter-owners make profits, ordinary punters and ground staff often earn little. Addiction and over-betting are concerns as with any lottery.
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In short, Teer is entertaining and culturally significant, but players must gamble judiciously.
How Teer Game Works Today?
Understanding how the Teer game works today is crucial for anyone interested. In modern times, the core rules remain the same as traditional practice. The government oversees licensing and regulations to ensure the game is conducted fairly. Advances like live updates and official websites mean bettors can check results online, but the drawing mechanism hasn’t changed: it’s still dozens of archers shooting arrows at a target. The result is as tangible as ever arrows physically hitting a target so the process is still very “real” compared to computerized lotteries.
Key Takeaway: Whether you participate in Shillong, Jowai or the nearby Khanapara Teer, you follow the same fundamental process of placing a bet, watching two rounds of archery, and checking if your two-digit guess matches the last two digits of the arrow count. This guide should help clarify each step in detail.
Getting Started with Teer
If you’re new and want to experience Teer, remember: buy your ticket before shooting starts (typically before 3:30 PM in Shillong). Watch the archers at the field if possible it’s a fascinating cultural event. After the arrows are counted and the winning numbers announced, check your slip. If you win, you can claim the prize from the operator.
For more information on results, see official sources like the Meghalaya lottery website or Khanapara result portals.
After each round, the straw target is inspected and the arrows that stuck are counted. The winning two-digit number comes from the total count.
Conclusion
The Teer game is a unique blend of archery and lottery an experience far different from typical raffles. We’ve covered how Teer game works: from buying a ticket and watching archers shoot, to counting arrows and declaring winners. The process is simple in concept, though the outcome is unpredictable. In Meghalaya, this tradition continues every weekday (except Sunday) under legal regulation, making it a fascinating living heritage.
Whether you’re a curious tourist or a local, understanding the rules helps you enjoy the game safely. Remember that luck plays the biggest role, and no “system” guarantees a win. By following the above steps and keeping expectations realistic, you can responsibly appreciate this archery-based lottery. Good luck and may your chosen number hit the bullseye!
Read Mores: Why Teer Is Popular in India
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