Puducherry has its own gambling law introduced in the 1960s. These are modelled on the Public Gambling Act of 1867, making them very strict and basically against any form of gambling. The laws don’t mention online gambling, and the players have taken advantage of that by playing in online casinos based abroad.

We’ve compiled a list of online casinos operating in Puducherry for you to browse and choose from. These online casinos differ greatly when it comes to the selection of online casino games, the size of the casino bonuses involved, and what kind of players they cater to.

List of the Best Casino Sites in Puducherry

Is Online Gambling Legal in Puducherry?

Online gambling isn’t regulated in Puducherry and it’s therefore legal to use the services of an online casino if it’s based outside the state. The law that is in place right now forbids land-based gambling, sports betting, and lotteries. The only legal form of gambling in the state is horse racing.

However, since online gambling isn’t mentioned, players are free to use the services of online casinos based abroad. The funds that you win in this way are still taxed once you deposit them to an account or a card based in India. The tax rate is a flat 30 per cent.

Brief History of Online Gambling in Puducherry

Puducherry has a long tradition of gambling going back centuries. Online gambling, however, became popular in the 1990s, when the technology needed for it became widely available in India. Indian players also had plenty of disposable income to explore the new ways to gamble as they do today.

Over the years online gambling improved and changed as the tech behind it became more sophisticated. Online casinos are now mostly available on mobile devices, they accept a variety of payment methods and they use AI as a way to improve their services. Lately, live events have become especially beloved by players.

Current Gambling Laws in Puducherry

Puducherry has its own gambling laws. The law currently in effect is called The Puducherry Gaming Act of 1965. It’s made to resemble the Public Gambling Act of 1867 and it doesn’t allow gambling games of any kind. This includes sports betting and lotteries.

The law doesn’t mention online gambling since it wasn’t yet invented. Over the years Puducherry has asked the Union to ban online gambling, but it didn’t happen and the state has started to turn a blind eye to the practice while still taxing the winnings. Other laws were introduced to govern the use of payment methods in this regard.

Online Casinos Puducherry

Puducherry Online Casinos Games

Online casinos offering their services to Puducherry players vary greatly when it comes to the games they provide. Indian and western games are equally popular with Puducherry players and so are games of luck and games of skills. Online casinos also cater to both small-time players and high rollers looking to actually earn from gambling.

Casinos also provide bonuses as a way to promote their services to new players and allow them to try the games with less risk. These casino bonuses come with wagering requirements meaning that you can’t withdraw the funds without betting some money of your own.

Puducherry laws don’t allow gambling but don’t mention online betting.

Casino Slot Games in Puducherry

Slot games are the most played gambling games in Indian casinos and possibly in casinos all over the world. It’s a game of luck and the outcome is determined by a random numbers generator. A player can’t do anything to improve their odds, nor can they chase their losses.

Slots also come in many different themes and aesthetics and with a variety of different gameplay and multiplier options. Many players choose which slot game to play based on its theme and look alone. This is fine if you’re playing for small amounts, but if you take the game seriously, you should learn about its return-to-player rate.

Casino Table & Card Games in Puducherry

Casino card games and table games are equally popular with players in India. These games are based on skill rather than luck and the players can improve their standing by learning the rules, practising, and carefully analysing how their opponents play. Card and table games still have an edge in favour of the casino, but much less so than other gambling games. The most popular of these games are:

  • Poker is the most popular card game. It comes in many forms, but Texas Hold’Em is the most well-liked in Puducherry casinos.
  • Roulette is a table game of luck alone. In order to win, a player needs to place their bet strategically.
  • Blackjack is a card game of luck in which a player wins by knowing when to give up.
  • Teen Patti is an Indian card game of skill somewhat similar to poker.
  • Andar Bahar is an Indian card game of luck.

Online Lottery in Puducherry

The lottery isn’t technically prohibited in Puducherry. Lottery Regulation Act of 1998 allows lotteries since many Union states do so as a way to fund public projects and institutions. Puducherry has an option of becoming one of such states, but it never did and it doesn’t have any lotteries based within the state.

Online lotteries are quite common in Puducherry on the other hand. Players from Puducherry can play lotteries based abroad and withdraw their winnings to an Indian account. These lotteries can be played for rather small amounts as a hobby, but there are also ones in which you can win big.

Live Casinos in Puducherry

Live casinos are becoming increasingly popular with Indian players. Live events are streamed from real casinos in real-time and controlled by actual dealers. The players take part in the game in real-time and therefore experience the feeling of visiting an actual casino while playing online.

The use of live casinos isn’t regulated in Puducherry as is the case with online gambling in general. It’s not mentioned in the laws dating back to the 1960s. Live casinos based outside the state are commonly used by Puducherry players. Young players are especially fond of this type of gambling since they are used to betting without visiting casinos.

There are no lotteries in Puducherry.

Sports Betting in Puducherry

Sports betting isn’t allowed in Puducherry. Betting online is available and most Puducherry players bet online without any restrictions. The most popular sports in Puducherry are cricket, football, and polo as is the case in the rest of India and that’s where most of the bets are made as well.

Horse racing is legal in the territory of Puducherry since the laws don’t mention it, at all. However, there are no race courses in the area. Players can still bet on horse racing online and many do. The winnings made from online horse racing are taxed as those from a casino.

How to Gamble from Puducherry (Legally)

It’s possible to legally gamble in some Indian states, and Puducherry is one of them. You can gamble legally in Puducherry by using online casinos based outside the state. Even though local laws forbid gambling, betting online isn’t mentioned at all and many Puducherry players use this loophole to play in casinos based abroad.

In order to use an online casino from Puducherry, you’ll need to choose a payment method with which to transfer your funds to and from an online casino account. There are plenty of options out there and players should be aware of all the upsides and downsides that come with choosing one of them. They should also know that the funds won at an online casino are taxed.

Choose a Casino

Gambling online starts by choosing an online casino that offers its services to players in Puducherry. We’ve compiled a list of online casinos you can try. Make sure to carefully study and compare the casinos before making a choice and there are a lot of features to consider when doing so.

Players should take into account the games the casino has to offer, the size of the bonuses players can use, as well as the size of bets the casino is built for. Many players also carefully choose which software providers cooperate with the casinos they plan to play in.

Choose a Payment Method

Players also need to choose a safe payment method with which to fund their gambling efforts. Most casinos allow you to use a payment method that can be used for both withdrawing and depositing the funds. The most common methods you can use are e-wallets, bank, and debit cards.

All of these payment methods have their own rules and policies when it comes to the fees you need to pay as well as the waiting times during deposits. It’s best to compare and contrast a few different payment methods before choosing the one that will suit you best.

Choose the Game

In the end, players need to choose which games they plan to play. It’s fine to play more than one game and to learn as you go, but you’ll do your best by playing the games you’re familiar with and that you love. This will also increase your odds with the games in which the odds depend on the player’s skill in the first place.

Most online casinos on our list allow players to play for both tokens and real money. That way you can play for tokens and practice without any risk. Players tend to move on to playing for real money once they are ready.

Horse racing is allowed in Puducherry and you can bet on it, but there are no race tracks.

Play at the Top Online Casinos in Puducherry

Puducherry doesn’t allow gambling since its 1960s gambling laws are modelled on the 19th-century Indian law that prohibited it. However, online gambling isn’t mentioned in those laws and it’s therefore perfectly legal to use online casinos based outside the state. The winnings made this way are still taxed when deposited to Puducherry bank accounts.

We’ve compiled a list of online casinos that offer their services in Puducherry for you to browse and choose from. When doing so, players need to carefully study and compare casinos and especially the ways you can bet and the size of the bonuses they provide.

Frequently Asked Questions

It’s not regulated since the laws governing don’t mention it.

Yes, it is, but there are no local lotteries.

No, it isn’t, with the exemption of horse racing.

The most popular games are poker, slots, blackjack, Andar Bahar, and Teen Patti.

Yes, they are at a rate of 30 per cent.

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.