IS PLAYING POKER WITH REAL MONEY, LEGAL IN INDIA ?

The one word answer for this query is "Yes". It is totally legal to play poker online in India.

Section 12 of the Public Gambling Act, 1867 offers “games of mere skill” are exempted from the Act. The Supreme Court of India and various other High Courts in India have suggested that “a game of mere skill” is a game in which, although the component of chance essentially cannot be fully eliminated, success depends mainly on the better knowledge, training, concentration, experience and skillfulness of the player.

It might be noted that States are legalized, by the Indian Constitution, to enact laws regulating gambling and betting in their relevant jurisdictions. In continuance of these powers, different States have passed anti-gambling legislation. Such legislations are mainly in concern with the Public Gambling Act of 1867 (and include the exception of “games of skill and luck”). Where a state legislation on gambling exists, it reigns over the Public Gambling Act of 1867. In this regard, the Assam Game and Betting Act, 1970 and Orissa (Prevention of) Gambling Act, 1955 and Telangana State Gaming (Amendment) Ordinance and High Court Judgement in Gujarat, 2021 forbids games with money stakes and also does not create an exemption for games of skill and luck. So, at present, residents of Assam, Meghalaya, Gujarat, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Odisha, Sikkim, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana are not allowed to play on pokerlion.com.

We permit players from all states and union territories in India except Assam, Meghalaya, Gujarat, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Odisha, Sikkim, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana to play online poker at PokerLion.

P.S. : The courts of Kolkata shall have exclusive jurisdiction in relation to disputes arising.

For any further clarifications or information on the legality of playing on this website, reach us at info@pokerlion.com .