Playing poker online for money is now illegal in all of India. But you can still play poker in real casinos in states like Goa and Sikkim.
Online Gaming Law banned online poker in June 2025. The law is called PROGA 2025. Now you cannot play poker for real money on any website or app in India.
You will get a clear idea of how things work in India related to poker and what you should avoid to stay safe below.
Is Poker Legal In India In 2026?
Here’s what’s legal and what’s not:
- Playing poker online for money has been banned everywhere in India since June 2025
- Playing poker at real casinos is legal only in Goa, Sikkim, and Daman & Diu
- Poker at home with friends: Unclear – police usually don’t care about small home games
- Free poker online (no money): Legal – playing for fun is okay
- Foreign poker websites: Risky – you have no protection if things go wrong
If you want to play poker for real money legally, you must go to a licensed casino in Goa, Sikkim, or Daman & Diu.
What Types of Poker Are Legal?
Here is an overview of what kind of poker is legal and which is not:
| Type of Poker | Is It Legal? | Why? |
|---|---|---|
| Online poker for money | No | Banned everywhere in India |
| Free online poker | Yes | No real money, so it’s okay |
| Games with no money | Yes | Just playing for fun |
| Casino poker | Yes | Only in licensed casinos in 3 states |
| Foreign poker websites | No | Banned and risky |
If you are playing poker without investing money and just for fun, then it is legal and safe.
But if you see it as a way to earn money, then it is completely illegal under the new indian gambling laws.
Why Poker Laws Changed in India in 2025?
The government made a new law called PROGA 2025. This law banned all online gambling, including poker. It was signed in March 2025 and started working on June 1, 2025.
This law doesn’t just ban poker. It bans all online gambling where you can win or lose real money.
Many Indians lost all their savings playing poker and other gambling games online. Some people even took loans to gamble.
Poker websites were scamming people. Players put money in but couldn’t take their winnings out. Some sites just disappeared with people’s money.
Most poker sites were run by companies in other countries. They didn’t pay taxes in India and didn’t follow Indian rules. The government wanted to stop Indian money from going to these foreign companies.
Source: Outlook Respawn
Is Online Poker Legal in India in 2026?
It is completely illegal. The government is blocking poker websites and apps. Internet companies block poker sites. If you try to visit a poker website, you’ll see a message saying it’s blocked.
Google Play Store and Apple App Store removed all poker apps that use real money. You cannot download poker apps anymore.
Banks and payment apps like Paytm and PhonePe stop payments to poker sites. Even if you find a poker site, you probably can’t send money to it.
What happens if you try to play anyway?
Your money can get stuck: If you put money into a poker site, it might get frozen. You may never get it back.
You can’t take money out: Even if you win, you cannot withdraw your money. The bank will block it.
Your bank account can get in trouble: If you keep trying to send money to poker sites, your bank might freeze your account.
Is Poker Legal in Casinos in India?
Yes, but only in three places. Each state in India has its own gambling laws. Most states don’t allow casinos at all. Only three places let casinos operate legally.
Where You Can Play Casino Poker
| Place | Is Poker Legal? | Where to Play |
|---|---|---|
| Goa | Yes | Casinos on ships and on land |
| Sikkim | Yes | Licensed casino buildings |
| Daman & Diu | Yes | Government-approved casinos |
| All other states | No | Old gambling laws ban it |
In Goa, there are casinos on big ships in the water and some casinos on land. Popular ones are Deltin Royale, Casino Pride, and Big Daddy Casino. You can play poker there legally.
Sikkim has a few casinos with poker tables. Daman & Diu also allows some casinos with poker.
Everywhere else in India, casino poker is illegal. States like Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu have strict rules against all gambling.
What About Playing Poker at Home in India?
Playing poker at home with friends for little money is not clearly illegal. The police usually don’t care about private home games if:
The host doesn’t take money: You cannot charge people to play or take a cut from each game. Everyone’s money should just go to winners.
It’s truly private: You play in your home, not in a public place or a business.
It’s just friends playing for fun: Small casual games, not big organized poker events with strangers.
Home poker is not officially legal. The law just doesn’t mention it clearly. Police usually ignore small home games. But technically, any gambling could be illegal under state laws.
Court Cases About the Poker Ban
Some poker companies and players are fighting the new law in court.
Several groups like HDW, have asked the Supreme Court to cancel the poker ban. They say poker is a game of skill, not just luck, so it should be allowed.
Poker businesses say the law is unfair. They argue that poker needs strategy and thinking, unlike pure luck games like slot machines.
The Supreme Court will hear these cases, but no one knows when they’ll decide. It could take many months or years.
Source: AGB
Dangers of Using Foreign Poker Sites
Some people use VPNs to play on foreign poker websites. This is dangerous.
Here’s what can go wrong:
| Danger | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Money gets frozen | Banks stop your transactions |
| Can’t get help | Indian courts won’t help you |
| Site disappears | Poker sites shut down suddenly |
| Identity theft | Your personal documents get misused |
No Indian bank protection: If a foreign poker site steals your money or doesn’t pay you, Indian banks cannot help you.
Banks can freeze your money: Even if you get past the blocks, banks watch for gambling payments. Your account could get frozen.
No way to complain: If a foreign poker site cheats you, you cannot sue them in Indian courts. They’re in another country and don’t follow Indian laws.
When governments crack down, foreign poker sites often close overnight. You lose all the money in your account.
You give these sites your Aadhaar, PAN card, and bank details. Shady sites can sell this information or use it for fraud.
Using foreign poker sites might seem smart, but you’re risking your money and your identity with zero protection.
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Conclusion: Online Poker Is Completely Illegal In India
You can still play poker for money at real casinos in Goa, Sikkim, and Daman & Diu. Playing free poker online with no real money is totally fine.
The government banned online poker because people were losing too much money, getting scammed, and sending money to foreign companies. Some people are fighting the ban in court, but it’s still the law right now.
If you play on foreign websites with tricks like VPNs, you’re taking big risks with no protection.
FAQs
Casinos in Goa, Sikkim, and Daman & Diu can offer poker and other casino games if they have a license. Everything else is illegal now, including online poker and sports betting.
You can play at licensed casinos in Goa, Sikkim, and Daman & Diu. You can play free poker online with no real money. But playing poker online for real money is completely illegal everywhere in India.
You have two legal options. First, go to a casino in Goa, Sikkim, or Daman & Diu. Second, play free poker online or with friends just for fun with no real money.
It’s still just called poker. Some people confuse poker with “Teen Patti,” but Teen Patti is a different Indian card game with different rules.
If someone bets at least 50% of the money already in the pot, it counts as a full bet. This means other players can raise the bet fully.
