Matka makes a comeback in Goa as cash starts to flow

COLVA: After seven weeks of being locked down, matka operations have restarted in the state, curiously a day after the death of Matka King Ratan Khatri in Mumbai.
Bookies have started accepting bets on numbers that fetch dividends of 1:90. For every rupee, you will get Rs 90 if you predict any of the 100 numbers correctly, and although the ‘business’ is not roaring like prior to the national lockdown, sources said it’s only a matter of time before it picks up pace.
On Monday morning, some of the matka bookies started operations. According to one bookie, agents in Goa have been told to restart the business and there’s little to worry about the flow of cash.
“Cash is everything in matka business. Betting money has to be dispatched to Mumbai, money has to be received to pay the winners too. This business is based on flow of money as the winner does not wait, nor does the agent,” said the bookie.
The two major markets in Goa for matka are Kalyan and Main Ratan, both of which functioned normally with betting websites also displaying the winning numbers.
Matka betting had come to an unexpected halt since March 22 when Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the Janata Curfew. Two days later, the PM declared a national lockdown and matka operators were forced to take a backseat since then.
The lockdown prompted bookies to look at alternative jobs with some of them forced to sell vegetables and eggs in villages where they normally accepted bets.
“Not everyone has started to accept bets. There is lot of work to do now. It’s like starting afresh. For now, the business is not like before, but once word is out, everyone will start again,” said another bookie.
Colva police, however, said they were not aware of matka making a comeback and promised to look out for bookies.