In early 2025, the Government of India introduced a new federal framework called the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025. This is the most significant update to the country’s online gambling and gaming laws in decades—and arguably, the most controversial.
Is Gambling Legal in India?
The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act was primarily designed to curb the operations of offshore, loosely regulated real-money gaming apps that had become widespread across India. Platforms such as Dream11, MPL, My11Circle, and other fantasy cricket or skill-based money gaming apps were at the centre of this crackdown.
The government’s key concern was that these platforms were operating in legal grey zones, blurring the line between games of skill and outright gambling. Also, the citations in the parliament in favour of this bill or the subsequent ban included stories of people losing their life’s savings into these fantasy cricket apps.
However, the law goes further than expected. It broadly defines “real money gaming” as any online activity where users deposit money with the expectation of winning monetary rewards, effectively enveloping everything from fantasy sports to poker and online casino games.
The Act prohibits the promotion, advertising, and facilitation of any real-money gaming platform not explicitly authorised by the central government. This means that app stores, ad networks, influencers, and affiliate sites must now tread carefully to avoid non-compliance.
Despite this, several operators are challenging the decision in court, arguing that a blanket ban on all forms of real-money gaming is unconstitutional and overreaching, especially when casinos and poker platforms are built on provably fair systems and international licensing standards.
For now, the law is in effect—but its implementation remains uneven across states, and the debate over its scope and fairness continues.
Historical Context of Gambling Laws in India
The foundational law governing gambling in India has been the Public Gambling Act of 1867, before the 2025 Act. This act broadly prohibits gambling activities across the country, defining them as a punishable offence. However, the act also explicitly gives individual state governments the right to regulate gambling within their jurisdictions.
Because of this, gambling regulations vary widely across the 28 states. The two significant federal laws pertain indirectly to online gambling before the 2025 Act include:
- The Public Gambling Act 1867
Prohibits all forms of gambling nationwide but explicitly gives power to states to regulate or legalise gambling activities within their territories. - The Information Technology Act 2000 (IT Act)
Surprisingly, this crucial act does not mention “gambling” at all, thus offering no clarity on online gambling.
As of now, India has 28 states, each with its own legislative approach towards gambling.
Physical Casino Gambling in India
Only three states or territories in India explicitly permit physical casino gambling:
- Goa
- Daman and Diu
- Sikkim
In these states, gambling is fully legal and regulated through specific state legislation. According to the Goa, Daman and Diu Public Gambling Act, 1976, casinos can operate under certain strict conditions—only at licensed five-star hotels or offshore vessels. These establishments must receive prior permission and licensing from the respective state government.
The other 25 states currently have no legalised land-based casinos.
Online Gambling in India: What is the Legal Status?
The legal status of online gambling is notably ambiguous. Here is what you should know clearly:
- No explicit central law prohibits online gambling or betting.
- Online gambling is explicitly legal only in states that have legalised physical casinos—Goa, Daman, and Sikkim. In these regions, licensed operators can legally offer online gambling services.
- For the other states, the situation is not explicitly clear. Though the new 2025 Act prohibits real-money gaming, offshore casinos are still in a gray area.
Thus, in practice, many Indian players engage in online gambling through offshore websites without legal repercussions. Offshore gambling platforms regularly advertise openly, as it is not considered illegal for international or offshore companies to market gambling services to Indian audiences.
Special Cases and Exceptions
Despite the general ambiguity, certain states have taken clear positions:
- Telangana and Andhra Pradesh
These two states have passed explicit legislation banning all forms of online gambling, effectively outlawing it entirely within their territories. Any form of real-money gambling has long been banned in these states. - Maharashtra
Maharashtra originally passed a casino act permitting casinos, but enforcement has remained limited. Recently, the state also passed laws explicitly prohibiting online gambling activities, yet enforcement has been lax and largely ineffective.
Moreover, many regions like Mumbai (a city) and West Bengal (a state) have gambling acts in place, but these laws closely follow the guidelines of the Public Gambling Act of 1867 and provide no significant new regulatory measures.
Rummy – A Notable Exception
Indian courts have consistently ruled that rummy is not purely a game of chance, as it involves substantial skill, strategy, and cognitive decision-making. This distinction sets rummy apart from typical gambling activities, placing it in the category of a “game of skill.”
And as a direct result of that:
- Numerous Indian-based online platforms legally operate and widely advertise rummy games.
- Many rummy apps and websites engage prominent Indian celebrities as brand ambassadors, freely promoting their platforms, albeit with disclaimers regarding financial risks and potential addiction.
What It Means for Indian Players
Currently, the online gambling environment in India can best be described as ambiguous:
- 26 of 28 states do not explicitly prohibit online gambling if the platforms are operated by offshore entities.
- Only Andhra Pradesh and Telangana have explicit state-level bans on online gambling.
- Goa, Daman, and Sikkim explicitly legalise and regulate gambling, including online gambling in certain circumstances.
Indian players commonly access offshore gambling platforms without direct legal consequences due to this ambiguity. However, the uncertainty implies some risk, and vigilance is always advisable.
To play safely and responsibly, we recommend thoroughly reviewing local state guidelines, keeping updated on legal developments, and choosing platforms carefully based on reputation, licensing, and security. It is best to stick to our top online casino site recommendations so you know you are playing on a reputable, fair, reliable, and secure online casino site.
Play responsibly, understand your local laws, and always choose reputable online casinos operating offshore to mitigate risk and enjoy a secure gambling experience.