Punjab is one of many Indian states that doesn’t allow gambling and has outdated laws regulating the practice. The laws that prohibit gambling in Punjab were written in the 19th century and therefore don’t mention online gambling at all. Lottery on the other hand is allowed.

We’ve set up a list of online casinos offering their services in Punjab, for you to browse and choose from. The casinos differ greatly when it comes to the type of games they offer, the size of bets you can make, and the bonuses it provides, so choose carefully.

List of the Best Casino Sites in Punjab

Is Online Gambling Legal in Punjab?

Online gambling is legal in Punjab because it’s not regulated at all. The laws currently in place in Punjab prohibit most forms of gambling and sports betting and they are pretty strict about it. However, the loophole allows online gambling, and Punjab players are taking advantage of it, as long as the casinos they are using are based outside the state.

The winnings made in casinos based abroad are still taxed when you move them to an Indian bank or account. The rate is set at a flat 30 per cent as long as you make more than 10.000 rupees.

Brief History of Online Gambling in Punjab

Punjab has had a long history of gambling culture long before it was prohibited and continuing after it was. Online gambling on the other hand became popular in the 1990s since that’s when the internet and personal computers came to be widely available.

Over the years, online gambling became more sophisticated as technology improved. Artificial intelligence became a big part of online gambling and most of the gambling now happens on mobile devices. Casinos have also started accepting a variety of different payment methods as the players started using them and the house needed to accommodate them.

Current Gambling Laws in Punjab

As is the case with most Indian states, Punjab has issued no laws about gambling since 1867. The Public Gambling Act passed in that year prohibited most forms of gambling including sports betting and it’s still in effect to this day. The only thing that has changed is the fact that online gambling became available and it’s now widely used.

On the other hand, the lottery is allowed in Punjab. The Lotteries (Regulation) Act 1998, the Lotteries Regulations Rules 2010, and the Punjab State Lotteries Rules, 2015 are the laws allowing and regulating lotteries in Punjab.

Online Casinos Punjab

Punjab Online Casinos Games

Casinos that cater to Punjab players offer a variety of different games. Both Indian and western games are easy to find since both are very popular with Indian players. Some of the most popular are Teen Patti variations, Andar Bahar live, and Jhandi Munda variations. Casinos provide games of luck and games of chance, as well as card and table games.

Different casino games also have different casino bonuses. The most popular are welcome bonuses, but there are also cashback, reload bonuses and no deposit bonuses. Players should carefully study the casino bonuses and what kind of wagering requirements they need to meet in order to use them. That way you can get the most out of the casino bonus offer and know when to pass up on it if it’s not worth it.

Punjab has its own law prohibiting gambling.

Casino Slot Games in Punjab

Slot games are the most popular gambling games, not only with Punjab players. It’s a game of luck and the player can’t do anything to increase their chance of winning. The results of the game are determined by the random number generator. This also means that there’s no point in chasing your losses when you’re having bad luck.

Slots come in many different themes and aesthetics and many players choose which version to play based on it only. However, it’s best if you find out about the return-to-player rate before committing to a slot game, regardless of how it looks.

Casino Table & Card Games in Punjab

Table and card games are games of skill. They still have an edge in favour of the casino, but it’s smaller than with other gambling games and the players can actually impact the outcome of the game. This is done by understanding the rules, strategic bets, and paying attention to your opponents. The most popular of these games are:

  • Poker is the most played card game. There are lots of versions, but most of the players choose Texas Hold’ Em.
  • Blackjack is a card and table game of luck. Players are able to influence the outcome by knowing when to quit.
  • Roulette is a table game of luck in which you can affect the result by making strategic bets.
  • Teen Patti or 3 Patti is an Indian poker-like card game.
  • Andar Bahar is an Indian card game based only on luck.

Online Lottery in Punjab

The lottery is allowed in Punjab. It’s one of the 13 Indian states that allow offline lotteries. States usually find legalizing lotteries to be beneficial as a way to fund public projects and charitable efforts. This has proven to be the case for Punjab as well.

Online lottery is also available and players can use the lotteries based inside the state or outside of it. Using foreign lotteries gives the players more options in terms of the size of bets they can make and the winnings available. The winnings made from lotteries are taxed as those made in casinos.

Live Casinos in Punjab

Live casinos are a relatively new addition to the world of online gambling and they are becoming very popular. These casinos stream games from real on-the-ground casinos and in real-time. The players take part as the game unfolds and the gameplay is controlled by an actual dealer.

Punjab doesn’t regulate live casinos as it doesn’t regulate online casinos in general since they weren’t available when the laws were introduced. Many Punjab players use live casinos based abroad since it’s perfectly legal to do so as long as your winnings are taxed.

It’s illegal to bet on sporting events in Punjab.

Sports Betting in Punjab

Sports betting isn’t allowed in Punjab, since it’s a game of luck and is covered by the laws prohibiting gambling. Online sports betting isn’t mentioned and therefore Punjab players regularly bet on sports events in gambling establishments based abroad. The most popular sports to bet on in Punjab are cricket, polo, and football.

Horse racing is allowed and there are racecourses in Punjab itself, where you can place your bets. Most players, however, bet in the online venue since that allows them to bet in different courses and to have more options when it comes to potential winnings.

How to Gamble from Punjab (Legally)

Gambling online is legal in Punjab since it’s not regulated by the laws currently in place. It’s simple enough to set up an account for one of many online casinos catering to Punjab players. It’s also important to set up a payment method and connect it to your casino account so that you can fund your games and withdraw your winnings.

Make sure to carefully choose both the casinos and the payment methods since there are differences between them and choosing the right one for you will make the gambling experience better and potentially more lucrative.

Choose a Casino

The first thing to do is to choose the casino you can play in. There are plenty of online casinos offering their services to Punjab players. These differ in terms of the games they provide, the size of bets you can make, and your chances of winning.

Casinos also differ when it comes to the bonuses they provide. These came in many forms and amounts and they are always tied to wagering requirements. This means that the player needs to spend some of their own money before withdrawing the winnings from the casino account. Sometimes it makes the bonus much less lucrative.

Choose a Payment Method

Since only online gambling is legal in Punjab, players also need to choose a payment method with which to fund their gambling efforts. The most popular of these are bank accounts, debit cards, and e-wallets. It’s best if you use a payment method with which you can both deposit and withdraw funds.

All of the payment methods we’ve mentioned have their own policies when it comes to fees you need to pay and how long it takes to receive the funds. It helps to learn about these features before choosing which payment method to use.

Choose the Game

In the end, a player should carefully choose which games to play. If a player knows the rules of the game and has mastered its gameplay – they will have a better chance of winning (at least with games based on skill). This doesn’t, however, mean you need to limit yourself to only a few games.

All of the games on our list can be played for tokens or for real money and playing for tokens is a good way to practice and learn about the game without using any of your own funds. Once you’re ready you can move on to playing for cash.

Play at the Top Online Casinos in Punjab

Punjab doesn’t allow gambling, but online gambling isn’t mentioned in its laws. Therefore online gambling is perfectly legal as long as the casinos you’re using are based outside the state. A lottery is allowed in Punjab, but sports betting other than horse racing isn’t.

We’ve compiled a list of online casinos that provide their services to Punjab players for you to check out. Make sure to compare these casinos in terms of the games they offer and the size of bets you can make in them. It’s also important to look for bonuses and wagering requirements when choosing a casino to play in.

Frequently Asked Questions

Online gambling isn’t regulated in Punjab.

Yes, it is.

No, it’s not except for horse racing.

Yes, at a rate of 30 per cent.

The most popular games are definitely Teen Patti and Andar Bahar, but also many different versions of poker, blackjack, and roulette.

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.