Online Casinos in West Bengal (2023)

West Bengal is one of the most liberal Indian states when it comes to gambling laws and regulations. This comes from the deep cultural roots gambling games have in the local community and from the state’s outdated laws that don’t cover gambling online.

We’ve set up a list of online casinos offering their services to players in West Bengal. Check it out and choose the casino that suits your needs in terms of the games you can play, the size of the bets, and the bonuses the casino offers. Keep in mind that bonuses also come with wagering requirements and aren’t free money.

List of the Best Casino Sites in West Bengal

Is Online Gambling Legal in West Bengal?

Online gambling is common in West Bengal, but it’s not really legal or illegal. The laws that prohibit gambling in West Bengal don’t mention online gambling at all since they were written in the 1950s when online gambling wasn’t yet invented. When it comes to forms of gambling that were invented at a time, the laws are still more liberal than most.

Some forms of gambling are explicitly allowed in West Bengal including sports betting and lottery. Laws that govern online payments were introduced in the 2000s and they state that winnings from online gambling are taxable.

Brief History of Online Gambling in West Bengal

Online gambling became popular in the 1990s when the tech used for it became widely available and the Indian public started playing at online casinos. The history of gambling itself goes back centuries and presents a mixture of local and western gambling games.

Over the years online gambling changed and improved as did the technology needed to play at an online casino. Gambling apps, live games, and the use of AI were all introduced to the practice as they became perfected and more widely available. Payment methods also changed and improved over time.

Current Gambling Laws in West Bengal

West Bengal introduced the West Bengal Gambling and Prize Competition Act in 1957. This law forbids gambling and establishes fines and jail sentences as a legal remedy against those who break it. It also made exemptions for the lottery and some forms of sports betting.

Since this law was made over 60 years ago it didn’t mention online gambling, therefore allowing the players to use the casinos based abroad. This is the case in most Indian states, which often have even older laws, dating back to the 19th century. Another law was introduced in the year 2000 to cover the use of online payments and it does state that the winnings made from online gambling are taxed even though the practice isn’t legal.

West Bengal Online Casinos Games

Casinos that offer their services to West Bengal players provide a variety of different games and many bonuses as well. These casinos cater to players playing Indian and western games alike. Games of luck such as slots and lottery are played as much as games of skill such as poker or blackjack.

The games provided by these casinos also differ greatly when it comes to the sizes of the bets you can make. They accommodate both high rollers and novice players that are mostly playing for fun. Bonuses offered by these casinos also come in many forms and different amounts and are often tied to wagering requirements.

West Bengal is a liberal state when it comes to gambling laws.

Casino Slot Games in West Bengal

Slots are the most popular game played in West Bengal online casinos and in Indian casinos in general. It’s a game of luck that almost any player can quickly master and learn. The outcome of the game is completely random and it’s possible to win big right away and with only a small bet.

Slots come in many different forms and players can choose from a variety of themes depending on their preferences. They also differ in the size of the bets you can make, which allows the players to move up and bet higher as they learn and master the game.

Casino Table & Card Games in West Bengal

Card and table games are games of skill in which a player can affect the outcome of the game based on their strategy and how they bet. These games also have an edge in favour of the casino, but it’s much smaller in comparison to most other gambling games. The most popular card and table games include:

• Andar Bahar — an Indian card game based on luck alone in which a player chooses one of two outcomes at random.
• Teen Pathi — an Indian card game of skill similar to poker but somewhat simplified.
• Roulette — is the most popular table game in most casinos. It’s based on luck alone but you can place strategic bets to improve your odds.
• Blackjack is a card game controlled by a dealer. A player can affect the outcome by knowing when to fold.
• Poker is the most played card game in West Bengal casinos. It’s a game of skill and has the lowest edge in favour of the house.

Online Lottery in West Bengal

Online lottery is legal in West Bengal. The 1950s law that forbade some forms of gambling in the state made an exemption for the lottery. 13 Indian states allow the lottery and it’s often used to fund public projects and charitable organisations.

Many players also use the services of lottery establishments based abroad since the laws don’t mention online gambling at all. The lottery is a game of luck alone and if you’re lucky you can win big. The winnings made from the lottery are taxed the same way as winnings of a gambling game, once the funds are transferred to India.

Live Casinos in West Bengal

Live casinos also aren’t covered by the laws currently in place in West Bengal. This means you can use them if they are based abroad and most players gamble this way. Recently live casinos have been taking off in terms of popularity since they are innovative and resonate with the needs of younger players.

Live casino games are streamed from on-the-ground casinos in real-time and players take part in the game online. It’s popular with young players since it’s a way to experience going to a casino while playing from your phone.

The last law regulating West Bengal was passed in 1957.

Sports Betting in West Bengal

Sports betting is considered illegal in West Bengal. The same principle applied to online gambling applies here as well and players can bet on sports online using casinos based abroad. The most popular sports to bet on in West Bengal are cricket, football, and polo.

It’s legal to bet on horse racing which has a long tradition in West Bengal. It’s mentioned in the law prohibiting gambling as an exemption and it’s taxed much more than the funds you get from betting on casino games in online casinos. You can also bet on horse racing online if the casinos you use provide the option.

How to Gamble from West Bengal (Legally)

It’s possible to bet from West Bengal even though the practice is illegal. The laws are liberal and they simply don’t mention online gambling at all. This means that as long as you have access to the internet and a payment method you can use one of those casinos while remaining in West Bengal.

We have compiled a list of casinos offering these services for you to browse and choose from. They are very much different from one another. Make sure to choose carefully and in order with your needs and priorities when it comes to gambling.

Choose the Casino

The first thing to do in order to gamble while in West Bengal is to choose one of the online casinos based outside the state. That way the local regulations that prohibit gambling won’t apply to you. There are plenty of such casinos so choosing one may require a bit of thought.

When selecting a casino to use, you should take into account the type of games it allows, the size of the bets you can make, and what kind of bonuses the casino offers to its players. It’s also important to consider the wagering requirements attached to those bonuses.

Selecting a Payment Method

Once you choose an online casino based outside West Bengal, you should choose the payment method so you can fund your games and withdraw the winnings you’ve made. It’s best to get a payment method that can help you do both using the same services.

The most common payment methods used in West Bengal casinos are cards, bank accounts, and e-wallets. All of these have their own policies when it comes to fees and how long it takes to transfer the funds to and from a casino account. The funds that you make this way are taxable at a rate of 30 percent.

Play What You Love

The best way to go is to play the games that you know and enjoy. This will also help you get the most out of the game and win as much as you can, given the rules and the chances common with gambling games. This doesn’t mean that you can’t branch out as a player and try a game that’s new to you.

The games can also be played for tokens allowing the player to try them out and learn before they risk any funds of their own. Once you’re ready you can move on to playing for cash and within that, bets can vary in size.

The lottery is allowed in West Bengal.

Play at the Top Online Casinos in West Bengal

Online gambling isn’t regulated in West Bengal but the state has a liberal attitude towards gambling, so it’s easy for the players to use casinos based outside the state. The winnings made from gambling are taxed once they are transferred to an Indian account or a card. West Bengal allows lottery and sports betting, however.

We’ve compiled a list of online casinos offering their services to West Bengal players for you to check out and choose from. Make sure to use a casino that has the games you want, the size of the bets that suit you, and a good deal on the bonuses it offers.