Simon’s Guide to Online Gambling in India

Land-based casino gambling is illegal in most of India, as decreed by the 1867 Public Gambling Act. There are currently two states (Sikkim and Goa) and one union territory (Daman) where casino gambling is legal. These states host both “traditional” and floating casinos that are located on cruise ships.

Online casino gambling is not specifically regulated in India, but it is generally considered to be illegal as well. There is only one state where online gambling is legal and regulated, Sikkim. Although online casino gambling was legalised in 2009, the first “real” online casino gambling licence was only issued in 2014.*

Indian gamblers playing on international online casino gambling sites are generally not prosecuted. However, accessing the sites and depositing money to them may prove difficult.

Bingo is a game of chance, which means it is illegal in most states of India. The game is likely legal in the states where casino gambling is – Sikkim and Goa – but there are no reports of any bingo halls in operation, nor of the casinos offering bingo games.

Online bingo is not specifically regulated in India, but it is generally considered to be illegal as well. Bingo is likely legal in Sikkim, the only state that has regulated online gambling. However, to date, no online bingo operators have been issued licences.

Indian gamblers playing on international online bingo sites are generally not prosecuted. However, accessing the sites and depositing money to them may prove difficult.

The legal status of poker in India is rather delicate. According to the 1867 Public Gambling Act, games of mere skill are excluded from the ban on gambling. While poker is not entirely a game of skill, the Supreme Court of India ruled that when a substantial amount of skill is involved, it is not considered gambling.

The legal status of poker was affirmed in 2013 when, after a poker club was raided for illegal gambling and both operators and players were prosecuted. The High Court ruled in the club’s favour, stating that poker is a game of skill, and the club was entitled to conduct games.

Online poker is likely also considered a game of skill which means it is legal, but most of the states do not issue online gambling licences at all. The only exception is Sikkim, but even in Sikkim very few online gambling licences have been issued, which means there is no abundance of Indian online poker sites.

Indian gamblers playing on international online poker sites are generally not prosecuted, and many poker sites welcome players from India. However, accessing the sites and depositing money to them may prove difficult.

Sports betting is extremely popular, however, most forms of it are illegal in most states. The only type of sports betting in India that is generally legal is horse race betting. Horse races were ruled by the Supreme Court in 1996 to be games of skill and thus allowed.

Online sports betting is legal in Sikkim (which likely means that land-based is as well). However, to date, no online sports betting licences have been issued. Indian gamblers playing on international online sports betting sites are generally not prosecuted, and many online sportsbooks welcome players from India. However, accessing the sites and depositing money to them may prove difficult.

Indian states are free to determine the legal status of lotteries within their own jurisdiction. Currently 12 states allow land-based lotteries: West Bengal, Maharashtra, Kerala, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Sikkim, Goa, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Manipur and Nagaland. The largest lottery operator in India is playwin, available in several states.

Playwin is also the only licensed online lottery in India, having received its permit from the state of Sikkim in 2009. Its website is available in many Indian states, though illegal in those where lotteries are banned. Indian gamblers playing on international online lottery sites are generally not prosecuted, and many online lotteries welcome players from India. However, accessing the sites and depositing money to them may prove difficult.

Bitcoin is not regulated in India, to the point where the Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of India, K. C. Chakrabarty explicitly stated that there were no plans to regulate the virtual currency.*

Bitcoin gambling is not specifically regulated by Indian laws. It is generally considered illegal, as all forms of gambling are banned by the 1867 Public Gambling Act.  Indian gamblers playing on Bitcoin gambling sites are very unlikely to be prosecuted. However, accessing the sites and depositing money to them may prove difficult.