What changed in Indian poker law
Every ruling, law and notification we track — and every correction we make to our own guides — dated and linked to the source. For the current position in each state, see the state-by-state guide.
- Our correctionAll states
State cards now cite the actual law for every small state and link to the document itself
Manipur, Tripura, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh now name their governing gambling laws. Links that only pointed to a website's home page were replaced with the law or ruling itself, and three news items we could not trace to a real article were removed.
- Our correctionKarnataka
Karnataka moved from 'Skill game' to 'Restricted'
Following the Supreme Court's 27 May 2026 judgment upholding Karnataka's 2021 law, we no longer describe Karnataka as a skill-game state.
- NotificationHaryana
Haryana notifies Poker and Rummy as games of skill
Notified under Section 2(1)(g) of the Haryana Prevention of Public Gambling Act, 2025. Clubs must still meet registration, KYC, CCTV and tax conditions.
- High CourtHaryana
Punjab & Haryana High Court permits physical poker for the petitioners, with conditions
Set aside police orders deferring permission (City Soul Hospitality / Maaya Gaming) and allowed physical poker and rummy subject to KYC, traceability, CCTV and authority-access conditions.
- Supreme CourtNational
Supreme Court: States may prohibit or regulate betting on games of skill
State of Tamil Nadu v. Junglee Games (2026 INSC 594) upheld the Tamil Nadu and Karnataka laws and set aside the Madras and Karnataka High Court judgments. Poker for stakes is exposed to any state ban.
- Supreme CourtNational
Supreme Court upholds 28% GST on the face value of bets
DGGI v. Gameskraft (2026 INSC 595) upheld 28% GST on the full face value of bets on skill games, including poker and rummy — a major exposure for operators.
- LegislationNational
Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025
Prohibits uncertified online real-money games, including most online poker for cash. It governs online play, not physical clubs.
- High CourtUttar Pradesh
Allahabad High Court: poker and rummy are games of skill
In DM Gaming v. State of U.P., the court set aside the Agra police's refusal to permit a gaming unit and ordered a fresh, reasoned decision. UP still has no licensing scheme.
- LegislationMeghalaya
Meghalaya repeals its 2021 gaming licensing law
The Meghalaya Regulation of Gaming (Repeal) Act, 2023 ended the state's casino and gaming licensing framework.
Informational only, not legal advice. Spotted something out of date? Tell us — see our corrections policy.