Online Casinos in Tamil Nadu (2023)

Tamil Nadu has some of the strictest gambling laws in India. Gambling isn’t allowed at all and it’s not a matter of having an outdated law as is the case in most Indian states that prohibit gambling. Tamil Nadu banned gambling very recently, just a few years ago.

However, illegal gambling is still present in Tamil Nadu. There’s a history and tradition of gambling in the state as there is in the rest of India, but players that do want to gamble need to do that they are doing it at their own risk. We’ve set up a list of casinos that offer their services in Tamil Nadu for you to choose from, but be aware of the legal consequences.

List of the Best Casino Sites in Tamil Nadu

Is Online Gambling Legal in Tamil Nadu

Online gambling isn’t allowed in Tamil Nadu. In most other Indian states online gambling simply isn’t mentioned in the laws regulating the field. Tamil Nadu on the other hand has a modern gambling law introduced in 2022 that explicitly bans gambling online as it is offline.

Casinos based outside of Tamil Nadu and India as a whole do offer their services to local players since Indian laws don’t apply to them. Players use their services even though it can have legal consequences. It’s a matter of weighing out the benefits of potential wins against legal issues that may come up.

Brief History of Online Gambling in Tamil Nadu

Gambling was illegal in Tamil Nadu since the 1960s, but those laws didn’t address online gambling. It became popular in the 1990s when the internet and personal computers became widely available. A law was introduced in 2022 to address the fact that online gambling wasn’t covered by the previous regulations.

This made all online gambling illegal in Tamil Nadu. Unlike most other states Tamil Nadu also doesn’t allow games based on skill. Indian card games that are sometimes treated as a game of skill are therefore also not allowed and neither is lottery, which many states use as a way to collect funds for public projects.

Current Gambling Laws in Tamil Nadu

There’s often a bit of confusion when it comes to Tamil Nadu gambling laws. These stem from the fact that the state changed its name so many of the acts governing gambling use the name that was in use at the time they were established. The state was called Madras until 1969 so Madras City Policy Act regulated gambling.

The Prohibition of Online Gambling and Regulation on Online Games Bill was introduced in 2022. It’s the most recent Indian law on gambling and one of the harshest since it doesn’t allow any gambling including lottery and sports betting.

Tamil Nadu Online Casinos Games

Tamil Nadu doesn’t allow online gambling, but foreign casinos do still operate in it since local laws don’t apply to them. These casinos offer most games you could find in other Indian casinos or abroad. This includes Indian and western games since both are played in Tamil Nadu. They also offer games of skill and luck.

Tamil Nadu casinos also provide lotteries and sports gambling (both of which are illegal). All of the games can be played for tokens as well as for actual cash. Most players start by playing for tokens until they learn and master the games and move on to playing for money.

Tamil Nadu is the strictest state when it comes to gambling laws.

Casino Slot Games in Tamil Nadu

Slots are the most popular gambling game offered by foreign casinos catering to Tamil Nadu players. This is true for Indian casinos elsewhere as well, since slots are easy to learn and you can win big if you’re lucky, even with the smallest of bets. Slots are a game of luck alone and there’s no strategy to learn or apply.

Slots come in many different forms and they can be played by small-time players as well as high rollers. Tamil Nadu casinos also provide a variety of different themes and bonus structures for the players to choose from.

Casino Table & Card Games in Tamil Nadu

Casinos operating in Tamil Nadu also offer table and card games. These are popular with the player since they are mostly games of skill and a player can affect the outcome of the game on their own, by placing strategic bets and playing wisely. Such games also have an edge in favour of the casino but it’s a smaller one than with slots. The most popular table and card games include:

• Poker is the most played card game and one that depends on the player’s skills the most.
• Blackjack depends on both skill and luck and the main goal for the player is to know when to quit.
• Baccarat is a card game similar to blackjack but somewhat simplified.
• Teen Pathi is a popular Indian card game similar to poker.
• Andar Bahar is a card game dependent on luck alone.

Online Lottery in Tamil Nadu

Online lottery is illegal in Tamil Nadu. There are Indian states that don’t allow gambling but make an exemption for lottery since it’s a way to fund public projects and humanitarian efforts. Tamil Nadu is stricter than those states and it doesn’t make such an exception, since 2003 when lotteries were banned.

In fact, since the law banning lotteries is set too broadly, it’s not possible to take part in company giveaways (as promotional tools) since that too falls under the definition of a lottery. Players can take part in online lotteries in casinos that don’t abide by Indian laws and many do.

Live Casinos in Tamil Nadu

Live casino games are games in which players take part in real-time and that are streamed from a real casino and controlled by an actual dealer. These games are increasingly popular in most casinos since they allow the player to experience the game as if they were actually visiting a gambling establishment while playing on their phone.

These casinos aren’t allowed in Tamil Nadu since no casinos are. However, players can still use online casinos based abroad even if the practice is illegal. Many do regardless of the legal issues that may result from it.

Sports Betting in Tamil Nadu

Sports betting is also not allowed in Tamil Nadu. However, there’s a long tradition of cricket betting in the state and there are plenty of illegal venues that provide this service to those who are ready to risk it. The same goes for cockfights that are popular in the rural regions of the state.

The only exception to the no-betting rule is about betting on horse racing. These are allowed, and in fact, Tamil Nadu was the first Indian state to have its own racecourse. The legality of the practice was confirmed in 1935 when a law defined how winnings from horse racing are taxed.

Horse racing is allowed in Tamil Nadu.

How to Gamble from Tamil Nadu (Legally)

Gambling is heavily restricted in Tamil Nadu, except when it comes to horse racing. It’s not possible to gamble in an on-the-ground casino in Tamil Nadu since there are none. All the neighbouring states are more liberal and many players simply drive to the nearby state that does have casinos.

It’s also possible to gamble illegally using online casinos based outside the state. There are risks involved with such a practice since the laws are modern and mention online gambling directly. However, many still do it, and not all face the laws because of it, especially when it comes to betting smaller sums.

Choose a Casino

The first thing to do is to choose a casino that caters to players based in Tamil Nadu. We’ve compiled a list of such casinos. Make sure that the establishment you’ve chosen is safe to use and that it accepts the payment method you plan to use.

You should also look for a casino that has the games you plan to try and that offers a bonus structure that can improve your standing and lower your risks. Keep in mind that bonuses aren’t free money and that they often come with wagering requirements.

Choose a Payment Method

Since the casino you’ll be using can’t be based in Tamil Nadu, you’ll need to make sure that you have a reliable way of depositing and withdrawing funds. It’s best to use one payment method for both purposes but it’s possible to have a separate account for each.

Keep in mind that all the payment methods come with their own fees, sets of rules and restrictions, and often different waiting time. Banks, cards, and e-wallets are the most popular payment methods but there’s a lot of variety between them. It’s also important for a payment method to have a good customer support system if something goes wrong.

Choose the Games

Once you’ve chosen a casino and a payment method, you should also choose the games you plan to play. It’s best to play the games you’re familiar with and that you understand not only in terms of rules but also in terms of strategy.

It isn’t to say that you can’t try and learn new games. Most of the games can be played for tokens as well as for cash. Playing a game for tokens first allows the players to test it out and learn without risking their own money. Once you’re ready you can move on to real money.

Players from Tamil Nadu can use bank accounts, cards, and e-wallets as payment methods.

Play at the Top Online Casinos in Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu is one of the strictest Indian states when it comes to gambling laws. A law passed in 2022 forbade online gambling in the state and it includes sports betting, lottery, games of luck, and almost any other form of gambling.

However, Tamil Nadu players still gamble illegally, mostly using casinos based abroad. We’ve compiled a list of casinos that provide their services to Tamil Nadu players for you to browse and choose from. Choose the casino carefully and make sure to take into account the bonuses they have to offer, as well as the size of the bets you can make.