Is It Legal To Play Online Poker In India?

Poker, the world-famous card game, is on a high roll to a nationwide acceptance and popularity in India. This can be attributed to its skill-based side and the possibility of winning BIG rewards that follow it. Thousands of players are joining it every year by starting from zero level and working their way up- a process better known as Grinding. As they grind and go up the ladder over a period of time, they learn to play it with more confidence, thus encashing some BIG wins in the process.

So What Makes Poker Different From Other Sport in India?

You would say the same would hold true for any sport in the world. There is always a learning phase that is followed by an even harder practicing phase- and the two together may lead to some BIG wins. 

So what’s so special with Poker?

Here’s an answer.

Poker is a skill-based game that doesn’t just include one or two of your skills. It calls for a mixture of several top attributes to help the player emerge from the ordinary. One needs several top qualities and attributes like leadership, mathematical, psychological, risk management, emotional quotient, and analytical reasoning to just get started. It then becomes more challenging with some more pleasures too. However, it all is worth once you start winning.

So Can I Play Poker Too Just Like I’d Play Cricket Or Football?

Yes and No.  

Poker is growing at the rate of knots in India. However, there still needs a question to be answered- is poker legal in India? This might seem shocking to you but poker isn’t exactly defined as a legal sport in India. The subject is still under legal revision by the (Hon.) Supreme Court of India and they are yet to take a call on it. This, in no way, stops you from playing it on the internet on a safe and trusted online gaming platform.

So while you can learn it just like you would cricket or football, you can’t possibly be just as “open” about it for the time being.

Here’s More to The Legality of Poker

The roots of the confusion date back to the British Rule in India. They had enacted a law called ‘The Public Gambling Act of 1867’ that simply prohibits anyone to host or run a public gaming house and to play in it. Violating this rule used to and still does attract severe penalties. Those asking the question ‘is poker legal inIndia’ can perhaps now connect the dots. This exciting card game is actually taken as ‘an act of gambling’ and this completely overlooks its skill-based side.  

But there is hope.

In three of its rulings dated 1967, 1996 and 2015, the (Hon.) Supreme Court of India had clearly categorized Rummy (another popular card game) as a completely skill-based endevaour. The same order gives poker players hope that someday the Apex Court would decisively and positively answer the question of ‘is poker legal in India.’

A good reason for this historic judgment is that games of chance should be termed illegal because they may favour one person over another. Such an occurrence may be irrelevant to the skill and dexterity of the disadvantaged person. True, the cards dealt is a matter of chance- but how you play with them is surely isn’t. Also if poker were just a game of pure chance, only one or two players would be always winning and rest all others would be always losing.

Playing on a safe, secure and trusted website that respects your skills and passion for the game

Playing on a safe, secure and trusted website that respects your skills and passion for the game makes a big difference. We suggest PokerBaazi, India’s most trusted poker website that is simply there for two reasons- it respects the value you bring to the game and BIG rewards that you deserve to win.

Remember, there is no restriction on playing poker as a skill-based game and with the internet available everywhere, it is just a matter of time before you too can get started.  

Is Online Poker Legal in India?

While the subject is under the jurisdiction, we suggest you focus on improving your card gaming skills with a view to use them over an extended period of time. We are sure we would get an answer to ‘is online poker legal in India’ someday soon but until then, we shouldn’t waste any time waiting for it and rather get on with improving our skills on an individual basis. There are already thousands of players ahead of us and the sooner we get started, the better it is.

Indian online gaming industry is expected to reach USD 1.1 billion by 2020 and poker would take a large share of the pie. Given this scenario, it is just a child guess that we should turn our focus on PB’s top-notch offerings with regards to skill-based play and make it all count with some stunning gameplay over a period of time.

Let’s take this card game as it is- a glorious sum of several skill-based endeavors and a consistent effort of bettering ourselves in trying circumstances. This is what a good game teaches us and this is just what we are all about. See you at the gaming felts soon!

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