Betting and gambling sit with the states under the Seventh Schedule, which is why India has never had one gambling law. The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act now sits above that patchwork for online money games, but state law still matters, both for physical venues and for the penalties that apply locally.
States that license physical casinos
| State or territory | Position | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Goa | Licensed casinos | Offshore vessel casinos on the Mandovi and land-based casinos in five-star hotels |
| Daman | Licensed casino gaming | A smaller land-based market |
| Sikkim | Licensed casinos, and a state online licensing regime | Its online regime has historically been limited to intra-state play |
| Nagaland | Licensing regime for games of skill | Operated under its own 2016 legislation |
States with express prohibitions on online money games
Several states legislated against online money gaming before the central Act, and those laws continue to matter for local enforcement and penalties.
| State | Position |
|---|---|
| Tamil Nadu | Prohibition on online gambling and regulation of online games, with a history of litigation over its scope |
| Telangana | Amended its gaming law to prohibit online money games, including games of skill played for stakes |
| Andhra Pradesh | Similar prohibition on online money gaming |
| Karnataka | Legislated to restrict online gaming; parts of the amendment were struck down in court |
| Kerala | Attempted to prohibit online rummy for stakes; the notification was set aside in court |
| Assam, Odisha, Telangana and others | Long-standing prohibitions on stake-based gaming under older statutes |
Where physical casinos actually are
If you are looking for a licensed venue rather than an online lobby, the destinations are Goa, Daman and Sikkim. City pages such as casinos in Goa and Sikkim cover what is there and what it costs.
Related
The central Act · Tax on winnings · Legal status overview
Frequently asked questions
Which Indian states allow casinos?
Goa, Daman and Sikkim license physical casinos. Sikkim and Nagaland have operated limited state licensing regimes for certain online games.
Which states ban online gambling?
Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh have express prohibitions on online money games, and Karnataka legislated with parts later struck down. Several older state statutes prohibit stake-based gaming generally.