Is poker legal in India? State-by-state, in plain English.

Haryana follows the Public Gambling Act, 1867 with a skill-game exception. There is no specific poker licensing, but private games in NCR (Gurgaon, Faridabad) operate under the same skill-game basis.

Delhi Public Gambling Act applies, with the same skill-game carve-out. No specific poker licensing.

The Allahabad High Court is currently hearing a petition seeking declaration of poker as a game of skill in UP, which would bring it in line with Karnataka and West Bengal. UP has no specific poker licensing framework — private member-only games are widely played in Noida, Ghaziabad and Lucknow under the skill-game exception relied on in other states.

Punjab applies the 1867 Act. Chandigarh tri-city has small private circuits.

Rajasthan Public Gambling Ordinance applies; skill-game exception holds. Jaipur and Udaipur have active home-game circuits.

Small Shimla/Manali circuit. No specific framework.

Dehradun has a small home-game scene.

Maharashtra's Bombay Prevention of Gambling Act predates poker jurisprudence. There is no specific poker licensing or ban — Mumbai and Pune have a thriving private member-only club scene that relies on the all-India skill-game position established by the Supreme Court and Karnataka HC.

Gujarat HC held in 2017 that poker is NOT a game of skill under the Gujarat Prevention of Gambling Act. Live games operate quietly in Ahmedabad. Appeal pending at Supreme Court.

Goa is one of only three states where licensed live casinos operate. The Goa, Daman and Diu Public Gambling Act allows licensed table games (including poker) on offshore vessels and in five-star hotels.

Karnataka HC has expressly held that poker is a game of skill and no police permission is required to play it in recreational clubs. The Karnataka Police (Amendment) Act 2021, which tried to ban online skill games for stakes, was struck down by the HC in 2022.

TN Online Gaming Authority Act, 2022 banned online games played for stakes. The Madras HC upheld much of it in 2023. Live poker is not specifically licensed but Madras HC has historically recognised poker as a game of skill in K.R. Lakshmanan.

Telangana Gaming (Amendment) Act, 2017 banned all wagering and betting, expressly removing the skill-game exception. The Telangana HC dismissed challenges in 2024. Hyderabad's live scene operates in a strict grey zone.

AP Gaming (Amendment) Act 2020 banned online games for stakes. Live position similar to other South states — relies on skill-game test.

Kerala HC struck down a 2021 notification banning online rummy. Live poker continues under the skill-game exception.

West Bengal Gambling and Prize Competitions Act expressly exempts poker (along with bridge and rummy) from the definition of gambling — making WB one of the most poker-friendly states in India.

One of the strictest state laws; live poker not advisable.

Bihar prohibits most forms of gaming for stakes.

Ranchi/Jamshedpur — small private circuit.

MP follows the 1867 Act. Online format challenges pending at MP HC. Indore and Bhopal have small private circuits.

Raipur — small private circuit.

Assam prohibits games for stakes, including skill games.

Sikkim Casinos (Control & Tax) Act licenses live casinos including poker. Casino Mahjong and Casino Sikkim operate in Gangtok.

Meghalaya Regulation of Gaming Act 2021 allows licensed casino gaming, but no major operators are active yet.

Strict prohibition.

Nagaland Prohibition of Gambling & Promotion and Regulation of Online Games of Skill Act, 2016 expressly licenses poker as a game of skill for online operators.

Strict prohibition.

Strict prohibition.

Strict prohibition.

Tri-city community plays under the 1867 Act framework.

No specific poker framework; small community in Jammu and Srinagar.

Indian players abroad — laws of the country of residence apply.