Online Casinos in Karnataka (2023)

Karnataka is one of the Indian states that doesn’t allow gambling since it still abides by the 19th century law that prohibited it. As is the case with most other states that have the same regulations online casinos aren’t regulated and players can use them if they are based outside the state. The funds they make from the winnings are still taxed in Karnataka.

We’ve compiled a list of online casinos operating in Karnataka for you to browse and choose from. These casinos differ greatly when it comes to the size of the bets they allow and the types of bonuses a player can get from them. All of this should be taken into account when choosing which casino to use.

List of the Best Casino Sites in Karnataka

Is Online Gambling Legal in Karnataka?

Gambling isn’t exactly legal in Karnataka since the practice is regulated by the Public Gambling Act of 1876. This law bans gambling but it obviously doesn’t address online gambling. Players, therefore, use online casinos based outside the state and technically don’t break the law while doing it.

Some games that might be considered to be gambling are allowed in the state, however. This covers sports betting, some games that are based on skill rather than luck, and the lottery, which is completely legalised in Karnataka. The funds that are made from online gambling are taxed when deposited to Indian accounts.

Brief History of Online Gambling in Karnataka

Gambling has a long history in Karnataka and both Indian and western games are equally popular with the local population. Online versions of those games were first introduced in the 90s when the internet became widely used and Indian players started using PCs. Poker, slots, and sports betting were the first games to be played online.

Online gambling has changed and improved as technology did. Apps and live events become more popular than visiting gambling sites using your mobile device. Many different payment methods are now in use to fund online games, but e-wallets have proven to be the most popular and the fastest.

Current Gambling Laws in Karnataka

There are a few laws governing gambling in Karnataka. The most well-known of these is the Public Gambling Act of 1876 which banned gambling in India. Karnataka Police Act of 1963 also deals with the practice and it empowers the police to stop gambling in the state.

The Information Technology Act of 2000 was an attempt to cover the practice of online casinos outside the state, but not even this law bans the use of all online casinos. They are in fact, widely used and the winnings made this way are commonly taxed.

Karnataka Online Casinos Games

Casinos operating in Karnataka offer a variety of different games. Indian and western games are equally popular with local players. Games of luck such as slots and those that depend on skill are equally well-liked. Over the years Karnataka laws tried to make a distinction between the two.

Many Karnataka casinos also offer lottery games and slot betting. These could be found in casinos operating from within the state since they have not considered gambling games and therefore they are legal. All of the games we mentioned are available on desktop and mobile devices alike.

Karnataka doesn’t allow on-the-ground casinos.

Casino Slot Games in Karnataka

Slot games are the most popular gambling games in Karnataka casinos as they are in casinos across India. Slots are a game of luck alone and a player can’t affect the outcome regardless of how they bet. The return to the player indicates that in the long run, a player will always lose a portion of their funds to the casino.

Slots come in many shapes and forms and have many different themes. They vary in terms of how much you can bet, how much you can win and what kind of bonuses a player can get.

Casino Table & Card Games in Karnataka

Table and card games are also widely played in Karnataka casinos. These games depend on the player’s skill rather than just luck. They also have an edge in favour of the casino, but it’s much lower than most other gambling games. Players can get better and learn from experience when playing these games. Mastering them takes a long time, but almost anyone can join in as a novice. The most popular card and table games in Karnataka casinos include:

• Poker is the most popular card game of skill. It comes in many variants but Texas Hold’Em is usually the most played.
• Blackjack is both a card and a table game and one in which placing strategic bets and giving up on time, makes all the difference.
• Roulette is the most popular table game, based mostly on luck.
• Teen Pathi is an Indian version of poker and also a game of skill.
• Andar Bahar is an Indian card game, based on luck alone.

Online Lottery in Karnataka

The lottery is a gambling game based on guessing and therefore luck only. However, many Indian states including Karnataka do allow it. That’s mostly because the games are run by the state and the profits made from them go toward public or charitable efforts. These lottery games can also be played offline.

It’s also possible to play the lottery as you would any other casino game and to use the service of a casino based abroad. The rules and chances for winning will be the same and the winnings you make this way will be taxed just as casino winnings.

Live Casinos in Karnataka

Live casinos are becoming an increasingly important part of the gambling world. These games are streamed from a real casino and in real-time. The games are run by a dealer and players can take part in them as the game unfolds. This provides the player with the look and feel of visiting an actual casino from their own home.

Karnataka laws don’t mention this type of gambling since it’s a new invention and local gambling laws are outdated. Players can therefore play in live casinos if they are based outside the state. Plenty of such casinos offer this service to Karnataka players.

Sports Betting in Karnataka

Sports betting was always a part of Karnataka tradition. At this point, the laws consider the practice to be a game of luck and therefore outlawed by the Public Gambling Act. This excludes horse racing betting which is common and legal in Karnataka since the 1950s.

The most popular sports in India are cricket, football, and polo and you can bet on all of them if you do it in a foreign casino while based in Karnataka. Many players also bet on other, western sports since foreign casinos offer that option as well.

Sports betting and lottery are legal in Karnataka.

How to Gamble from Karnataka (Legally)

It’s possible to legally gamble from Karnataka even though local laws don’t allow it. Since the only laws the Indian states have regarding gambling were made before online gambling was a thing, it’s possible to use the services of an online casino outside the state. In order to do so you’ll need to set up an account with the casino and have a payment method to deposit and withdraw your funds.

The funds that you do withdraw from your casino account can still be taxed once they are in an Indian bank or card.

Set up A Casino Account

The first thing to do is to set up an account with a casino that caters to Karnataka players but that’s operating outside the state. We have a list of such casinos for you and you’re free to browse and choose the one that suits you when it comes to the games they offer and the bonuses you can get.

Once you set up an account at an online casino you get all the advantages of being a new player. This means you get to use bonuses made for novice players. These bonuses have lower wagering requirements and they are usually somewhat higher than most other bonuses casinos tend to offer.

Choose a Payment Method

Once you have an account in an online casino that offers services to Indian players in states where gambling is illegal – you’ll need to choose a payment method to deposit and withdraw your funds. Casinos offer many different options in this regard but the most common ones are cards, bank accounts, and e-wallets.

Most of these payment methods work via apps allowing the players to transfer the funds, set up accounts, and actually play the games using only a phone or a tablet device. Keep in mind that the payment methods also come with their own policies and fees.

Play the Games You Love

It’s often overlooked how important it is to play the games that you know and love. Playing the games that you’re familiar with and that you enjoy will help you get the best outcome and it will be the most enjoyable way to approach gambling as well.

This isn’t to say that you should only stick to a few games that you’ve played before. All the games from the casinos on our list can also be played for tokens, allowing the players to learn and try the game out without having to risk any actual money.

Play at the Top Online Casinos in Karnataka

Karnataka is an Indian state that doesn’t allow gambling. It’s been outlawed since the 19th century and regulations introduced in the 1960s reinforced the rules. However, players can still enjoy gambling in Karnataka if they use foreign casinos and pay taxes once they deposit the funds they’ve won to an Indian bank.

We’ve set up a list of casinos that offer their services to Karnataka players that you can check out and choose from. When selecting a casino to play in, make sure to take into account their bonus setups, their selection of games, and the size of the bets you can make.