Indian laws on gambling are not clear-cut as there are more than one law on the subject in India and it is a state subject. Every state in the Republic of India has its exclusive legislation right to regulate the gambling activities occurring within its territory. The Public Gambling Act of 1867 is a central law that remains paramount in this subject matter. It also outlaws operating or being in control of a public betting establishment. The penalty for this law infraction may entail a fine or imprisonment of up to 90 days. On a similar note, this Act also prohibits persons from visiting gambling houses, an offence that attracts a fine of Rs. 100 or imprisonment of one month.

Indian law categorizes games into two broad categories: the common classification between games of skill and games of chance. Several judgments passed by the Supreme Court of India have thrown light on these classifications. For instance, which the game of indulge has not been wholly a game of chance, while the ‘‘three-card ‘ flush or brag’ game to be strictly under the category of games of chances. Like any card game though, Rummy must involve some level of skill since players have to memorize the fall of the cards and master the art of picking and dropping cards. Therefore, there is no doubt that Rummy has to be deemed to be a game of skill or skill-based activity, which is primarily and predominantly so.

The Information Technology Act of 2000, which regulates cyber activities in India, does not explicitly mention gambling or betting. This omission has left the interpretation of online gambling laws to the courts. However, the courts have generally refrained from taking a definitive stance on this issue. Notably, online gambling is a prohibited offense in the state of Maharashtra under the “Bombay Wager Act.”

Currently, only three states in India permit casinos: These states include Goa, Daman and Diu and Sikkim. In Sikkim the two legal casinos are casino Sikkim and casino Mah-Jongg. Goa being famous for casino operations currently has ten casinos out of which six are on land and other four are floating casinos which are operating on the water body known as Mandovi River. Some of Goa’s floating casinos include the Deltin Royale, Deltin Jaqk, Pride, and Pride 2. The first two are under Deltin Group and the other two are under Pride Group. Under Section 3 of the Goa, Daman and Diu Public Gambling Act, 1976 casino operations are allowed only in the five-star hotels or on board the ships which are outside the Indian territory, provided that they obtain prior permission from the government. As a result of this regulation, the Deltin Group has opened the first land-based casino in Daman, which is now live. Further, based on the existing newspaper articles, information, there are indications that Visakhapatnam may be added to the list of casinos.

The penalty for being caught gambling online has been stringent, with a fine of ₹90,000 per day since 2009.

It is important for users to understand the legal implications and risks associated with gambling in India. Laws and regulations can change, and it is the responsibility of individuals to stay informed about the current legal status of gambling activities in their respective states. Engaging in illegal gambling activities can result in severe penalties, including hefty fines and imprisonment.

Sattakingno launched in 2021, and it complies with the Indian law of gambling in its operations. In regard to legal requirements patrons should continue to respect the law of the country and state they are in and also approach the gambling activities with responsibilities. Our platform has a responsible gambling policy we enforce strict measures to make sure all our users’ gambling experience is legal. In the case of any ambiguity or if you wish to have the information about the existing laws and regulations, we advise that you to consult a legal adviser.