Telangana is one of the strictest Indian states when it comes to gambling laws. The government sees gambling as a social evil and it has made great efforts to forbid the practice. Unlike most other states, Telangana has also banned online gambling.

It’s still technically possible to gamble in Telangana, but you need to be prepared for the possible legal consequences of your actions. We’ve compiled a list of casinos that offer their services to Telangana players for you to browse and choose from. These casinos differ greatly when it comes to the size of the bets you can make and their bonus systems, so choose carefully.

List of the Best Casino Sites in Telangana

Is Online Gambling Legal in Telangana?

Online gambling isn’t legal in Telangana. The practice was outlawed in 1974 but that version of the law didn’t mention online gambling since it was yet invented. When online gambling become popular in the 90s Telangana players tried to use that loophole.

The government introduced a new law in 2017 that explicitly mentions online gambling and prohibits it as well. The only way to gamble in Telangana is to use the services of a casino based outside India that doesn’t follow Indian regulations, but this comes with legal risks for the players as well.

Brief History of Online Gambling in Telangana

Online gambling became popular in India in the 1990s. That’s when the internet became more widely available and Indian players which have a long tradition of gambling quickly accepted the innovative technology. The laws at the time didn’t mention it and the government decided to further clamp down on the practice.

In 2017 online gambling was banned. This included all forms of online gambling, sports betting, and games that depend on luck alone such as lotteries. Illegal gambling was never truly stopped since there’s a deep root of gambling culture in Telangana society.

Current Gambling Laws in Telangana

There’s a bit of confusion when it comes to Telangana laws regarding gambling. What’s now Telangana used to be a part of Andhra Pradesh until 2014 when the two states split. The laws that were in effect until 2014 applied to the whole territory of Andhra Pradesh. The Telangana gaming act of 1974 was the law that forbade gambling until the split of 2014.

An amendment to this act was introduced in 2017 when Telangana was independent. It forbids online gambling as well. The fine for gambling in Telangana is set at 10.000 rupees and up to 2 years in jail.

Telangana Online Casinos Games

Telangana doesn’t allow gambling and the only way to gamble is to use the services of online casinos based outside the state and even that comes with legal risks. However, since gambling is still popular there are plenty of casinos offering their services to Telangana players.

These casinos offer games of luck and games of skills, as well as Indian and western games. Some casinos also provide lottery and sports betting to their players. The games you can play also differ greatly in how large bets a player can make, as well as what kind of bonuses you can get.

Telangana has some of the strictest gambling laws in India.

Casino Slot Games in Telangana

Slot games are the most popular gambling games played in online casinos catering to Telangana players. The game is easy to learn and master and there’s a chance of winning big even if you bet on lower amounts. The games come in a great many themes and aesthetics as well as with different bonus structures.

Slots are a game of luck only and there’s nothing a player can do to change the outcome of the game. The result depends on a random number generator meaning that it’s also futile to chase your losses after a few bad turns.

Casino Table & Card Games in Telangana

Table and card games are equally popular in casinos providing their services in Telangana. They are the complete opposite of slots since they are based on skill rather than luck. These games also work in favor of the casinos but the edge is rather low. The most popular of these games include:

  • Poker is the most popular card game, with the lowest edge in favor of the casino.
  • Blackjack is both a card and table game and it also depends on the player’s skill especially when it comes to how to bet and when to give up.
  • Roulette is a table game based on luck but the player can bet strategically and increase their odds.
  • Teen Pathi is an Indian card game based on skill and it very much resembles a simplified version of poker.
  • Andar Bahar is an Indian card game based on luck alone.

Online Lottery in Telangana

Online lottery isn’t allowed in Telangana together with other gambling games. This is much stricter than in most Indian states since many of them allow the lottery and in fact, the states tend to run it. It’s a way for the state to fund public projects and charity work.

However, the strict laws set in 2017 don’t make this distinction in Telangana. It’s still possible however to use online lottery based outside the state, even though it’s illegal to do so and the players should be ready for legal problems that may come out of it.

Live Casinos in Telangana

Live casinos offer the same games as online ones, but the games are streamed from a real casino and in real time. The dealers from an actual casino run the game and the players take part online as the game is in progress. This is becoming an increasingly popular way to gamble since it mimics going to a casino while playing from your phone.

Live casinos aren’t allowed in Telangana as is the case with any other casino. However, there are still players that manage to play at one, by using a casino based outside the country, to which the laws don’t apply.

Sports Betting in Telangana

Sports betting isn’t allowed in Telangana since the gambling laws are strict and quite broad. This includes the sports that are very popular in India such as cricket, football or polo. Many casinos offer the options illegally and especially if they are based outside Telangana.

The only exception comes for horse racing which has a long tradition in Telangana and is allowed. Horse racing is also very heavily taxed and players need to pay 28 percent of their winnings made from betting on horse racing, regardless of how large or small the winnings are.

Lottery and sports betting are also banned in Telangana.

How to Gamble from Telangana (Legally)

It’s not possible to legally bet in Telangana since the laws governing the practice are strict and very modern, forbidding the practice of online gambling as well. The exemption is betting on horse racing which can be done legally as the winnings from horse racing are taxed.

There are still casinos that offer their services to Telangana players. Players can use them at their own risk as long as they have a payment method connected to their casino account and are able to add and withdraw funds to their casino.

Choose a Casino

The first thing to do is to choose a casino from our list. It contains a lot of different casinos with many games and bonus structures to choose from. When making this decision make sure to take into account the size of the bets you can make and how generous the bonuses are. They tend to come with wagering requirements attached, so try not to treat bonuses as free money.

You should also look for a casino that has the game you want and it helps to know the software providers as well since it helps a lot if there’s a technical issue and you need to contact support.

Choose a Payment Method

Once you decide which casino, based outside the state to use, you should also decide on a payment method. Most payment methods allow players to both deposit and withdraw the funds, and it’s best to stick to those. Security is the most important feature of a payment method and speed and cost should be further down the list.

All the payment methods have their own policies when it comes to how fast you can transfer the funds and what kind of fees you need to cover. It’s a matter of balancing between the cost and the features you’re getting.

Choose the Games

When you choose the casino you trust and get a reliable payment method, the only thing that’s left to do is to play the games that you love. Make sure you know the rules and the gambling strategies before you start playing. That way you’ll get a fair chance and you can get the most out of the game.

This doesn’t mean that players should restrict themselves to only a few games. Most casinos offer an option of playing for tokens as a way to learn how to play the game risk-free and you can move on to playing for cash once you’re ready.

Play at the Top Online Casinos in Telangana

Telangana is one of the strictest Indian states when it comes to gambling laws. Gambling is illegal and this covers online gambling as much as it does on the ground casinos. It also forbids lottery, and sports betting and it doesn’t make a distinction between games of luck and games of skill.

Casinos still offer their services to Telangana players, since they are based outside the state and local laws don’t apply to them (but they do to players). We’ve set up a list of such casinos for you to browse and choose from. When doing so, make sure to take into account the bonus policy and the size of potential bets.

Frequently Asked Questions

No, most forms of gambling are illegal in Telangana.

No, Telangana laws forbid online gambling as well.

No, sports betting isn’t allowed in Telangana, however, horse race betting is the only exception.

The fines are 10.000 rupees and up to two years in jail.

No, lottery is not allowed in Telangana either.

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.