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

Skill game — notified 10 Sep 2026 · conditions apply

Poker and rummy are notified games of skill in Haryana. On 10 September 2026 the State Government notified them under Section 2(1)(g) of the Haryana Prevention of Public Gambling Act, 2025. Before that, on 17 August 2026, the Punjab & Haryana High Court (City Soul Hospitality LLP and Maaya Gaming) set aside police orders that had deferred permission and directed that the petitioners be permitted to run physical poker and rummy subject to KYC, traceability, CCTV and authority-access conditions. Clubs must still meet registration, KYC, CCTV, tax and other conditions; a directory listing is not proof that a club complies.

Skill-game exception · No licensing

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

No state-specific ruling or notification located yet; this status follows the State's general gambling law and the Supreme Court's 27 May 2026 judgment.

High Court: poker is a game of skill · No state licensing

In August 2024 the Allahabad High Court (M/S DM Gaming Pvt Ltd v. State of U.P.) held that poker and rummy are games of skill, not gambling, and set aside the Agra police's refusal to permit a poker and rummy gaming unit, directing a fresh, reasoned decision. The court also said authorities can still act if actual gambling takes place. Uttar Pradesh has not issued any notification or licensing scheme for poker (unlike Haryana), so each club depends on local permission. The Supreme Court's 27 May 2026 ruling also confirms that States may prohibit or regulate betting on skill games.

Skill-game exception

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

No state-specific ruling or notification located yet; this status follows the State's general gambling law and the Supreme Court's 27 May 2026 judgment.

Skill-game exception

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

No state-specific ruling or notification located yet; this status follows the State's general gambling law and the Supreme Court's 27 May 2026 judgment.

Skill-game exception

Small Shimla/Manali circuit. No specific framework.

No state-specific ruling or notification located yet; this status follows the State's general gambling law and the Supreme Court's 27 May 2026 judgment.

Skill-game exception

Dehradun has a small home-game scene.

No state-specific ruling or notification located yet; this status follows the State's general gambling law and the Supreme Court's 27 May 2026 judgment.

Private games widespread · No explicit ban

Maharashtra's Bombay Prevention of Gambling Act, 1887 predates poker case law. There is no poker licensing or explicit poker ban; private member clubs rely on the all-India skill-game position, which after the Supreme Court's 27 May 2026 ruling is subject to any State law prohibiting betting on skill games.

No state-specific ruling or notification located yet; this status follows the State's general gambling law and the Supreme Court's 27 May 2026 judgment.

Bombay Act applies · Strict

A single judge of the Gujarat High Court held on 4 December 2017 (Dominance Games v. State of Gujarat) that poker is a game of chance and playing it in Gujarat is an offence. Appeals before a division bench have been repeatedly adjourned and we have found no stay, so that ruling still applies. Live poker for stakes in Gujarat is not legal.

Fully licensed

Goa is one of only two states (with Sikkim) 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.

Betting on skill games banned (SC upheld, May 2026)

The Karnataka Police (Amendment) Act, 2021 prohibits wagering and betting on games, including games of skill. The Karnataka High Court struck it down in 2022, but on 27 May 2026 the Supreme Court set that judgment aside and upheld the law (State of Tamil Nadu v. Junglee Games, 2026 INSC 594). Poker played for stakes in Karnataka is therefore exposed to prohibition; the 2013 Indian Poker Association ruling should no longer be relied on by itself.

Online stakes banned (SC upheld, May 2026)

Tamil Nadu's laws prohibiting betting and wagering on games, including online games for stakes, were upheld by the Supreme Court on 27 May 2026 (State of Tamil Nadu v. Junglee Games, 2026 INSC 594), which set aside the Madras High Court's narrower reading. Poker played for stakes is exposed to prohibition; there is no licensing route for live poker.

All gaming-for-stakes banned

The Telangana Gaming (Amendment) Act, 2017 amended the Telangana Gaming Act, 1974 so that games played for stakes are covered whether or not skill is involved, including online play. The Supreme Court's 27 May 2026 ruling confirms States may prohibit betting on skill games. Live poker for stakes in Telangana is not legal.

All online gaming-for-stakes banned

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

No state-specific ruling or notification located yet; this status follows the State's general gambling law and the Supreme Court's 27 May 2026 judgment.

Kerala HC allows rummy & poker as skill games

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

Skill game (explicit exemption)

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.

Odisha Prevention of Gambling Act – strict

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

No state-specific ruling or notification located yet; this status follows the State's general gambling law and the Supreme Court's 27 May 2026 judgment.

Strict prohibition

Bihar prohibits most forms of gaming for stakes.

No state-specific ruling or notification located yet; this status follows the State's general gambling law and the Supreme Court's 27 May 2026 judgment.

Skill-game exception

Ranchi/Jamshedpur — small private circuit.

No state-specific ruling or notification located yet; this status follows the State's general gambling law and the Supreme Court's 27 May 2026 judgment.

MP HC pending on online formats

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

No state-specific ruling or notification located yet; this status follows the State's general gambling law and the Supreme Court's 27 May 2026 judgment.

Skill-game exception

Raipur — small private circuit.

No state-specific ruling or notification located yet; this status follows the State's general gambling law and the Supreme Court's 27 May 2026 judgment.

Assam Game and Betting Act – strict

Assam prohibits games for stakes, including skill games.

No state-specific ruling or notification located yet; this status follows the State's general gambling law and the Supreme Court's 27 May 2026 judgment.

Fully licensed

The Sikkim Casinos (Control and Tax) Act, 2002 lets the State license casinos, including live poker tables. Casinos operate in Gangtok. Since a July 2016 notification, local residents of Sikkim may not play in the State's casinos.

Gaming licence law repealed (2023)

Meghalaya's 2021 gaming licensing law was repealed — first by ordinance on 31 December 2022, then by the Meghalaya Regulation of Gaming (Repeal) Act, 2023. There is currently no licensing route for casinos or poker rooms in Meghalaya.

Public Gambling Act, 1867 (Manipur amendments) · No licensing

Manipur applies the Public Gambling Act, 1867 with its own state amendments. Keeping or being found in a common gaming house is an offence; there is no licensing scheme for casinos or poker rooms.

Online skill game only — licensing covers online operators, not live venues

Nagaland Prohibition of Gambling & Promotion and Regulation of Online Games of Skill Act, 2016 licenses poker as a game of skill for online operators. The licensing framework does not extend to live venue operators or home games — those remain subject to the general gambling statute.

No state-specific ruling or notification located yet; this status follows the State's general gambling law and the Supreme Court's 27 May 2026 judgment.

Tripura Gambling Act · No licensing

The Tripura Gambling Act (Act IV of 1336 T.E., 1926) prohibits gambling and keeping gaming houses, publicly or privately. There is no licensing scheme for casinos or poker rooms.

Gambling (Prohibition) Act, 2012 · Strict

The Arunachal Pradesh Gambling (Prohibition) Act, 2012 (Act 8 of 2012) punishes public gambling and keeping a common gaming house. Its definition of gambling covers wagering or betting generally, with exceptions only for on-course horse racing and lotteries. There is no licensing scheme for poker rooms.

Public Gambling Act, 1867 (extended) · No licensing

The Public Gambling Act, 1867 applies in Mizoram through the Public Gambling (Extension to Mizo District) Act, 1962. Keeping or visiting a common gaming house is an offence; there is no licensing scheme for casinos or poker rooms.

Skill-game exception

Tri-city community plays under the 1867 Act framework.

No state-specific ruling or notification located yet; this status follows the State's general gambling law and the Supreme Court's 27 May 2026 judgment.

No specific framework

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

No state-specific ruling or notification located yet; this status follows the State's general gambling law and the Supreme Court's 27 May 2026 judgment.

NRI players

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

No state-specific ruling or notification located yet; this status follows the State's general gambling law and the Supreme Court's 27 May 2026 judgment.