Are Online Casinos Legal in India? (2023)

List of the Best Legal Casino Sites in India

Are Online Casinos Legal in India?

Indian laws don’t mention online gambling at all. Laws that are written before online casinos were available don’t allow gambling in India. However, they do exclude lottery and sports betting from these rules. Indian players are permitted to use foreign-based casinos when playing online, and many do. This is made easier by the fact that laws regarding receiving funds from abroad are rather liberal.

Here, we will present a brief outline of the laws regulating online casinos in India.

Brief History of Online Gambling in India

According to the Public Gambling Act of 1867, gambling isn’t allowed in India. It’s a crime to use a gambling establishment or to try to run one. A penalty of three months or a fine of 200 rupees is set for those that try to gamble and get caught. This law is still the act that governs gambling in India.

The Information Technology Act of 2000 governs the issues related to the internet, and it doesn’t mention online gambling. It’s through this loophole that online gambling became available in India. After a while, some states legalised online gambling, and local online casinos appeared soon. At this point, four Indian states allow gambling in both land-based and online casinos.

Newest Updates on the Online Casino Legality in India

Since online gambling technology has significantly advanced in recent years and Indian players are interested in playing legally, many Indian states have allowed online gambling. The most recent states to do so were: Goa, Sikkim, Nagaland and Meghalaya. There are rumours that others will follow soon, since taxing gambling winning has proven to be lucrative for these states.

Online Gambling Laws in India

Indian gambling laws differ from state to state. There are also differences based on the nature of the game itself. The law makes a difference between games that are based on luck and those that are based on skill. In general, games based on chance are more widely restricted than those that require a skilled player.

In the following paragraphs, we will explain the difference between star laws and the difference in how games of luck are treated compared to games of skill. This is a distinction most states make.

Do All States Have the Same Gambling Laws in India?

The gambling laws aren’t the same throughout India. The constitution allows the states to regulate gambling on their own.

Four states have legalised almost every kind of gambling, and 13 states allow lottery but not games of skill.

Only one of those four states has local online gambling ventures – others still use the services of casinos based abroad.

Game of Pure Chance

The games that are based on luck alone are much more restricted than the games that require a skill. This is a matter of some debate, but in most cases, the laws see sports betting as a skill you can gain by learning about the game and the teams involved. A lottery is also not seen as a game based on luck alone.

Game of Skill

Laws mostly allow for games that are based on skill. This covers a lot of popular casino games. All card and table games are based on skill since players can use the hand they were dealt and make the most out of it. The players can improve their standing with practice and experience, even though in the long run – the odds are always in favour of the casino.

Game of Chance and Skill

In most games, there’s a mixture of skill and chance since the player can’t control the hand they get, but they can use the rules of the game to make the most out of it. The laws in different states, therefore, vary significantly regarding whether these games are legal. There’s also a skill in knowing when to quit and not chasing your losses.

Online Lottery

Online lotteries are allowed in most states even though they are focused on skill. Lotteries are also often founded and run by governmental institutions and used to fund public projects. That’s been the case much before online casinos were a thing. It’s also allowed to take part in online lotteries based abroad.

Which Indian States Are Legal for Online Gambling?

There’s no federal gambling law in India. Some states allow gambling, and others don’t.

Some states don’t mention gambling in their laws, and it exists in a grey area. The states also have legislation defining games of luck and games of skills.

Chances are that more states will legalise gambling soon since there’s an interest in it and it’s proven to be lucrative.

Here, we will go through the list of online gambling regulations for each Indian state individually and help you choose the states and the casinos with the best practice.

Indian State	Status
Goa	Legal
Sikkim	Legal
Nagaland	Legal
Meghalaya	Legal
Daman	Legal
Delhi	Illegal
Gujarat	Illegal
Telangana	Illegal
Andhra Pradesh	Illegal
Odisha	Illegal
Chhattisgarh	Illegal
Jammu and Kashmir	No Legislation
Ladakh	No Legislation
Himalach Pradesh	No Legislation
Lakshadweep	No Legislation
Punjab	No Legislation
Chandigarh	No Legislation
Uttarakhand	No Legislation
Rajasthan	No Legislation
Haryana	No Legislation
Uttar Pradesh	No Legislation
Madhya Pradesh	No Legislation
Jharkhand	No Legislation
Bihar	No Legislation
West Bengal	No Legislation
Dadra and Nagal Haveli	No Legislation
Karnataka	No Legislation
Kerala	No Legislation
Tamil Nadu	No Legislation
Puducherry	No Legislation
Arunachal	No Legislation
Assam	No Legislation
Manipur	No Legislation
Mizoram	No Legislation
Tripura	No Legislation

Legal States

Only three states have legalised gambling in India so far and only one of them has local online gambling sites. The experiment was proven to be lucrative for both the state and local businesses and chances are more states will join in soon, since the residents are already using casinos based abroad.

• Goa — Goa is one of the few Indian states which regulate gambling. This means that you can use land-based casinos or online casinos that are based in Goa itself.
• Sikkim — Sikkim is a small state and it started to regulate gambling in the late 00s. It also allows for local online casinos and at this point, it’s the only one that has them.
• Nagaland — Nagaland is unique among every other Indian state. It has technically legalised gambling and online casinos can apply for a license to operate within the state. However, the rules are much more restricted than for the casinos based abroad.
• Meghalaya — Meghalaya is one of the sister states and it’s the third state in India to allow gambling. Players can use both casinos licensed in Meghalaya and those operating from abroad without restrictions
• Daman — Daman is part of a larger union of states separated by the Arabian Sea. The states don’t have the same gambling laws and even though using casinos is legal in Daman, it’s not in Dadra, which is a part of the union.

Illegal States

Gambling is specifically outlawed in these states. The practice is almost as rare as allowing gambling and most states are somewhere in between. However, the regulations in these states are also unclear about the use of foreign-based casinos, and that’s what most players do. All of these states allow the players to transfer funds earned abroad.

• Delhi — There’s a long history of gambling in Delhi. It used to be reserved for kings and sultans only. At this point, gambling in Delhi is illegal and most players use foreign-based sites to play
• Gujarat — Similar to the Public Gambling Act in the nation, Gujarat’s gambling regulations date back more than a century. Gambling is strictly prohibited in Gujarat in all forms.
• Telangana — Telangana has the strictest gambling laws in India. All forms of gambling are illegal and it can only be done using foreign gambling sites. The government looks past this practice
• Andhra Pradesh — Andhra Pradesh also has strict gambling laws and it’s banned completely. Online gambling is also forbidden and you’ll need a VPN to use a foreign online gambling institution
• Odisha — Gambling is illegal in Odisha but local laws don’t mention online gambling at all. This loose end has allowed local players to use foreign casinos.
• Chhattisgarh — online gambling is strictly prohibited under a law written in 2022, making it one of the few states in India to take a strong stance against online gambling. Unlike other states where the laws prohibiting gambling don’t mention online play, the law in Chhattisgarh covers all modern forms of gambling and imposes fines for those caught betting online or offline.

States With No Legislation

The following states have no legislation when it comes to gambling – in online casinos or in land-based ones. In practice, this means that the local players use the service of the online casinos based abroad and transfer funds to Indian cards or e-wallets. The funds are still taxed as income, regardless of where they came from.

• Jammu and Kashmir — Jammu and Kashmir are known because of the territorial dispute between India and Pakistan, both of which claim this region. Its gambling laws allow online gambling in casinos based abroad.
• Ladakh — Ladakh is in union with Jammu and Kashmir and this means that they share gambling laws. Using online casinos is just as easy in Ladakh.
• Himachal Pradesh — Himachal Pradesh laws allow games of skill but don’t allow for games of luck, such as slots or lottery. However, you can use online casinos based outside India to play any game.
• Lakshadweep — an archipelago of islands on the coast of Kerala, that doesn’t regulate online gambling. The laws currently in place in Lakshadweep don’t allow gambling, but make no mention of online gambling at all.
• Punjab — At this point, Punjab is in the midst of a public debate about legalising gambling. The state lottery is allowed in Punjab and chances are that other forms of gambling will be legalised as well.
• Chandigarh—  the laws regarding online gambling in the union territory Chandigarh may be outdated or unclear. While the state may turn a blind eye to players using the services of online casinos based abroad, it’s also important to understand the tax implications of gambling winnings in India. Any income or winnings generated through online gambling are subject to taxation, and the tax rate can vary depending on the amount of the winnings and the applicable tax laws.
• Uttarakhand — Uttarakhand is one of the youngest states. It came to be in 2000 and it still has the same laws as it had when it was part of a larger union. These allow the players to use online casinos based abroad.
• Rajasthan — Rajasthan had one other law regulating gambling other than the Public Gambling Act of 1867. This means that gambling is illegal, but online gambling isn’t mentioned at all and that’s what allows the players to use foreign sites.
• Haryana — Haryana is a prosperous state and it tried to legalise gambling in 2005 but the attempt failed. However, at this point, it’s still possible to use foreign gambling sites.
• Uttar Pradesh — Uttar Pradesh is one of the most populous states in India. It doesn’t allow gambling, but it has a rather liberal view towards online gambling allowing it with foreign-based casinos.
• Madhya Pradesh — Madhya Pradesh is one of the largest states in India and gambling in it is still illegal as stated in the Public Gambling Act of 1867. This law doesn’t mention and therefore allows online gambling.
• Jharkhand — Jharkhand is another state that follows the Law from 1867. Therefore online gambling is permitted since it’s not forbidden.
• Bihar — Bihar is the third largest state in the country and gambling is rather popular. It’s technically illegal, but online casinos aren’t mentioned in the archaic law.
• West Bengal — Lottery and horse racing are legal in West Bengal. The same goes for the use of online casinos based outside the state.
• Dadra and Nagar Haveli — Dadra and Nagar Haveli are a part of the union with Daman and Diu. However, they have their own gambling laws which are more restrictive. Land-based casinos aren’t allowed, but you can gamble in a casino based abroad.
• Maharashtra — Maharashtra forbids gambling. The rules prohibiting it, however, were written in the 19th century and do not mention online gambling. However, the lottery can be freely played in Maharashtra’s on-the-ground facilities.
• Karnataka — Karnataka tried to ban gambling completely, but the attempt failed. At this point, the laws are the same as in most of the country – with no mention of online gambling.
• Kerala — Kerala is known for its sunny beaches and therefore is a great place for a vacation. It allows for a state lottery and online gambling in foreign casinos.
• Tamil Nadu — Tamil Nadu has strict laws when it comes to gambling. At one point it tried to ban “gambling in cyberspace” as well, but the courts stopped it. All other forms of gambling are banned.
• Puducherry — Puducherry used to be a French territory before India’s independence. It allows online gambling since the old laws didn’t mention it.
• Arunachal — Arunachal Pradesh is a part of the union of the seven states in the northeast. It doesn’t have any gambling laws of its own and it’s governed by the 1867 law. This means online gambling is allowed.
• Assam — Assam is a state with strict laws and it doesn’t allow any gambling. This was confirmed in the 1970s law. However, this law doesn’t mention the internet at all and most players take advantage of it.
• Manipur — Manipur doesn’t allow gambling at all, as was stated in the Public Gambling Act of 1867. However online gambling is allowed.
• Mizoram — Mizoram is also a part of the union of the seven states of the Northeast. It doesn’t have any new gambling laws other than that of 1867.
• Tripura — Tripura has its own set of gambling laws, issued in 1927. It allows games of skill but not games of luck, and they don’t mention online gambling since it didn’t exist at the time.

Taxation on Gambling Winnings in India

The winnings you earn from gambling are subjected to taxation in India. The law includes “income from other sources,” and one such source is gambling. It goes for the winnings from online and offline casinos alike. When it comes to the winnings you’ve made from online betting – it’s rather easy to prove that you’ve withdrawn funds and therefore tax administration is made simple as well.

Here’s a quick overview of the rates and taxation rules in general:

What is the Rate?

The rate is set at 30 percent. There are no exemptions to this rule, meaning that you need to pay 30 percent on your winnings regardless of how low or high they are, as long as they are over 10.000 rupees. It also doesn’t change based on the game or site.

Income Tax

When you earn over 10.000 rupees, the gambling winnings are seen as income, and that’s how they are taxed. This means that you have a right to deductions based on the expenses, such as the fees for using the site. Winnings made from gambling are combined with other income you’ve made and taxed together as well.

Play at the Best Legal Casinos in India

Online gambling is legal in India, and it’s governed by individual states. Some states allow for it, others allow for some sites, and others forbid it altogether. It’s also rather easy to play at a foreign-based casino, while in India. Take a look at our list and choose one of the legal Indian sites you can use.