Kerala is one of the Indian states that doesn’t allow gambling. It’s been prohibited since the 19th century. However, gambling has always been a part of the local culture and players have always found a way to gamble in Kerala. Since outdated laws don’t mention online gambling, players can still use the services of online casinos based abroad without getting in trouble with the law.

Casinos that offer their services in Kerala provide a variety of games, both Indian and western, as well as many different bonus features. We’ve created a list of online casinos available in Kerala for you to browse and choose from.

List of the Best Casino Sites in Kerala

Is Online Gambling Legal in Kerala?

India doesn’t have a set of laws on gambling governing the practice in the country as a whole. Instead, each Indian state has laws of its own. Only a few states allow gambling. Most still have laws passed in the 19th century. Kerala is one such state.

Gambling isn’t allowed in Kerala, but there’s no mention of online gambling. Casinos that are based outside of the state or outside India in general, freely operate in Kerala and the players use their services and withdraw their winnings.

Brief History of Online Gambling in Kerala

Online gambling became a part of the Indian casino culture in the early 90s when it was first introduced. Since the Indian population is tech-savvy and has plenty of disposable income, online gambling quickly became a pastime many enjoy. The only law in place regulating gambling at the time was the 1876 Public Gambling Act which forbade the practice.

Laws regarding transferring funds online were introduced much later, in the late 00s. This means that the funds won while playing in casinos based abroad are now legally taxed in India.

Current Gambling Laws in Kerala

At this point, there are two important laws governing gambling in Kerala. Both are already old, but until new laws are put in place they determine what kind of gambling practices are legal in Kerala. The first of these is the 1867 Public Gambling Act, which forbids gambling, but doesn’t mention online gambling at all since it wasn’t yet invented.

The second is the Payment and Settlement Act of 2007 which gives the national bank of India the right to inspect transactions made abroad.

Online Casinos Kerala

Kerala Online Casinos Games

Casinos in Kerala offer a variety of different games popular with Indian players. This includes Western and Indian games alike since both are played in India. Casinos also offer games of luck and games of skills. Slots and lotteries are based on luck alone, but with card and table games, a player depends on their skill and placing strategic bets.

Online casinos operating in Kerala cater to both small bets and high-roller players that play for large sums and take part in tournaments for pros only. They also offer a variety of different bonuses with different wagering requirements.

Current laws don’t allow on-the-ground casinos in Kerala.

Casino Slot Games in Kerala

Slot games are the most popular gambling games in most Indian casinos and in Kerala as well. That’s because a player can easily learn and master the game and it’s possible to win big even with the smallest of bets if you’re lucky. Slots are a game of luck alone and there’s nothing a player can do to increase their odds.

There are Indian states that don’t allow games of luck, but since Kerala doesn’t have any gambling laws regulating online gambling at all – it’s allowed to play Slot games provided by the casinos based abroad.

Casino Table & Card Games in Kerala

Casino table and card games are also available in Kerala casinos. Those games are based on skills rather than luck and casino players can get better at them as they gain more experience. A crucial part of these games is to take note of what your opponents are doing and to try to anticipate their moves. The most popular table and card games played in Kerala casinos include:

  • Poker is the most popular card game with the lowest edge in favour of the casino.
  • Blackjack is both a table and a card game depending on the players carefully choosing when to bet and when to fold.
  • Baccarat is also a card game based on skill, somewhat similar to blackjack but less complex.
  • Teen Patti is a popular Indian card game often known as an Indian version of poker.
  • Andar Bahar is a card game based mostly on luck of the draw.

Online Lottery in Kerala

Kerala was one of the first Indian states to legalise the lottery in 1976. The lottery is a game of pure luck, but it’s allowed in many Indian states since the profits are often used to fund public and charitable projects.

Online versions of the lottery aren’t regulated and all and many players play the lottery in one of the online casinos based abroad. The winnings are taxed the same as winnings made from gambling.

Live Casinos in Kerala

Current laws in Kerala don’t mention live casinos since they were made before they were even invented. This means that players from Kerala and other Indian states that still operate under the 1876 law can use live online casinos as long as they are based outside the state.

In live casinos, the games are streamed from real on-the-ground casinos and the players take part in real time. They’ve become popular recently since they allow players to enjoy the excitement of playing in a real casino from the comfort of their homes and devices.

Sports Betting in Kerala

Sports betting isn’t allowed in accordance with the Public Gambling Act of 1876. However, it was always a big part of the Indian sports culture. In Kerala you can bet on sports if the casino providing the service is based outside the state itself, using the same loophole as the casinos do.

The most popular sports to bet on in Kerala casinos are cricket, football, and rugby. Betting and horse racing and polo was also always a staple of local sports culture and in the past horse racing was often exempt from gambling laws.

Online casinos operating in Kerala offer both games of skill and games of luck.

How to Gamble from Kerala (Legally)

Laws don’t allow gambling in Kerala, but they don’t mention online gambling at all. Anyone with a good internet connection and an online payment method can use the services of a casino in India. It’s important to get to know the casino before you do so, so feel free to explore our list of online casinos operating in Kerala.

You can use all the casinos we mentioned on mobile or desktop devices and most payment methods allow the players to transfer funds to and from the casino using a mobile device, as well.

1. Choose the Casino Based Outside of Kerala

The first step is to find a casino that operates in Kerala legally. This means a casino that is based outside of Kerala. Once you do investigate what kind of games the casino has to offer as well as what kind of bonuses you can get as a new player.

Casinos vary greatly in terms of the bonuses they offer, the games you can play, and the size of bets you can make. Make sure to set up an account in a casino that suits your gambling interest and preference, but that also has games you haven’t tried before and that allows you to bet bigger when you’re ready to.

2. Set Up a Casino Account

Once you’ve chosen the casino that suits you, set up the account and connect it with a payment method. Most casinos accept a lot of different payment methods including bank accounts, cards, and e-wallets. Make sure to choose a payment method that allows you to both deposit and withdraw the funds.

There are fees as well as limitations when it comes to depositing and withdrawing funds online. Each casino and each payment method have rules of their own so make sure you know what they are before you start using them. New users usually get better bonus offers as a way for a casino to promote its services.

3. Play a Casino Game That You Love

It is often overlooked when it comes to choosing a casino or a game to play how important it is that you enjoy it and that it’s a game you know how to play. This doesn’t mean that a player should stick to one game only. Kerala casinos provide a variety of different games and bonus structures and many games can be played for tokens until you get better at them.

You’ll do best if you’re familiar with the rules of the game and if you know what your chances are of winning. Casinos operating in Kerala are open about return-to-player rates.

Play at the Top Online Casinos in Kerala

Kerala is one of the Indian states that still goes by the 1876 laws on gambling. That means that it’s not allowed but it doesn’t cover online casinos that can operate legally from outside the state. This doesn’t cover the lottery which has been legal in Kerala for decades now.

We’ve compiled a list of online casinos operating in Kerala for you to check out and choose from. These casinos offer card and table games as well as slots, and they differ greatly when it comes to their bonus policies. Indian casinos also allow sports betting as well as live dealer games.

Frequently Asked Questions

No, it’s not, but the laws don’t cover online gambling.

It’s regulated by the Public Gambling Act of 1876.

Yes, it is.

Yes, games like poker and blackjack are available.

Yes, they are.

Vladimir Kovačević
Vladimir Kovačević LinkedIn

Vladimir is our content editor with years of experience in the online casino and sports betting industry, which includes writing for websites like Football Whispers, Pundit Feed, and Football Ground Guide, among others. In addition to professional experience in this industry, Vladimir also has a personal relationship with sports betting and online gambling, which helps him dig deeper to provide useful, accurate, and relevant information about casino sites in India.