Can you legally play online casinos in India? Indian Casino Laws Explained

Many Indians like the idea of ​​gambling. That much is clear. And these days, with the advent of online casinos, games like roulette, blackjack and poker are just a click away. But before you go ahead and place your bets, you need to know if it is safe and legal to do so. So let’s look at the question “Is online casino legal in India?” »

Are online casino games legal in India?

It would be nice and simple to say, “Yes, it’s legal.” Or “No, it’s illegal” and get that question answered in no time. But unfortunately, it's not that simple. Not when we talk about online gambling in India. Instead, it is a veritable “gray area” of the legal system, causing all sorts of confusion for the local population.

So how does it work? India uses a regional system on this issue. In other words, each state makes its own laws regarding online casino gambling. There is therefore no unifying federal/national decision on the issue. And that means that depending on where you are in Indian Territory, you may have completely different rules to follow than someone living in a neighboring state.

So, the average Indian cannot simply assume that it is legal or illegal to play at online casinos, like 1Winner Casino. Instead, they need to find out the situation in their part of the country. Some aspiring players will get lucky and live in an area where it is enjoyable to play online poker and other games. Others will be less fortunate, completely banned from these gaming experiences.

How Online Casino Laws Vary by State

Games of chance to grow than ever. And many Indians would love to play games like roulette and slots. But not everyone can. Here's how the rules vary:

• Andhra Pradesh: Illegal (according to the Andhra Pradesh Gaming Act, 1974)
• Arunachal Pradesh: unclear
• Assam: Illegal (under the Assam Gambling and Betting Act, 1970)
• Bihar: unclear
• Chhattisgarh: unclear
• Goa: Legal, but with some regulations
• Gujarat: Illegal (according to the Gujarat Prevention of Gambling Act, 1887)
• Haryana: unclear
• Himachal Pradesh: unclear
• Jharkhand: unclear
• Karnataka: Illegal (according to the Karnataka Police Act, 1963)
• Kerala: Illegal (according to the Kerala Gaming Act, 1960)
• Madhya Pradesh: unclear
• Maharashtra: illegal (according to the Bombay Wager Act of 1867)
• Manipur: unclear
• Meghalaya: legal, with some regulations
• Mizoram: unclear
• Nagaland: legal, but only for games of skill
• Odisha: Illegal (according to the Odisha Prevention of Gambling Act, 1955)
• Punjab: unclear
• Rajasthan: unclear
• Sikkim: legal, but with regulations
• Tamil Nadu: Illegal (according to the Tamil Nadu Gaming Act, 1930)
• Telangana: Illegal (according to Telangana State Gaming Act)
• Tripura: unclear
• Uttar Pradesh: unclear
• Uttarakhand: unclear
• West Bengal: legal, but only for games of skill

Please keep in mind that these are just the latest court decisions at the time of writing this article. States regularly review online casino rules and could introduce new ones without much delay. You must therefore keep up to date with the latest developments, wherever you are, to avoid falling foul of new and unexpected restrictions.

More Important Things to Know About the Legality of Online Casinos in India

Here are some additional key points about the legality of online casinos in India:

The public law of 1867

At the federal level, many debates surrounding the legality of online casinos are based on a fairly old law, the Public Gambling Act (1867). This states that it is illegal to operate or manage a public gambling house, but since this was long before the days of the internet and casino apps, it doesn't have much influence in terms of online game.

Skill and Luck

Many states make distinctions between games based solely on luck and those that involve skill. We could say, for example, that poker is a skill gamebecause the player has some control over the outcome and can use tactics and strategies to influence the game. But many slots are simply based on luck.

Casinos in other countries

There are many online casinos operated and managed from other countries. Controlling these (and who is allowed to play in them) is much more difficult than regulating casinos in your own country. So this is another “gray area” as to whether you are allowed to play at casinos located in other countries, such as the United States or part of Europe.

Online gaming in India: a legal minefield

Overall, the situation is quite unclear regarding online gaming in India. More regulation is needed simply to clarify this concept and let people know what they can and cannot do safely if they want to gamble and bet online. In the meantime, if you are in India and want to play onlinereview your state's laws first.