Gambling Laws in Delhi

Legal Online Casinos in Delhi

What Legal Gambling is available in Delhi?

Although wagering at physical gambling institutions in Delhi is still for the most part very much illegal, there are still plenty of opportunities to get your bets  down.

Whether you want to place your bets on sports, casino or poker, your best outlet is definitely online. As long as the casino is based outside of India, you’ll have no problem gambling online.

Legal gambling in Delhi is still pretty sparse. But if you really are keen to play in Delhi, you can still place bets in person at hippodromes. Otherwise, most other forms of real money wagering are not allowed.

Be careful, there are penalties if you are caught inside or actually running a physical gambling house.

The Gambling Laws of Delhi

Gambling in Delhi is regulated by the Public Gambling Act of 1867, and locally by the Delhi Public Act of 1955. By these laws you can’t place any real money bets at gambling houses within the area, but luckily you can still place your bets online.

Generally speaking, the gambling laws in the country and in the state are incredibly outdated, and most believe they are no longer relevant. That being said, as long as you stay out of physical casinos, you are pretty much free to wager on whatever you like.

In terms of the Act, a gaming house is described as a tent, room, or house where gambling physically takes place.

New Delhi Casinos

Although Delhi casinos are officially illegal, there are still plenty of ways to play at a casino.

Even though legal gaming houses can’t be found within Delhi, throughout the year illegal gambling dens pop up across the city. And no time leads to the creation of more gambling houses than the auspicious time of Diwali.

Of course, there are penalties involved if you are caught running or attending a gambling house, so if you want to avoid paying up, or a possible stint in prison, you are better off getting your casino fix by playing online.

Online casinos can operate in Delhi and the rest of India as long as they are based outside the country. This goes for several other states as well and the gambling laws of Maharashtra and West Bengal work the same!

Lotteries in Delhi

Sadly, Delhi is not one of the 13 states with its own legal lottery, making it impossible to physically buy legal lottery tickets in Delhi.

Based on the Public Gaming Act of 1867, it’s up to individual states to decide if they want to run a lottery or not. Delhi decided against it.

That said, just like with casinos, there are still plenty of ways to enjoy playing the lottery without relying on illegal means.

You can simply buy lottery tickets online. Lotteries based outside of India are allowed to operate in the capital like Multilotto.

One of the best things about playing at online lotteries is that they often carry absolutely massive jackpots. There is also a much greater variety in types or games and tickets. All in all, it’s not a bad way to go.

Sports Betting in Delhi

Sports betting in New Delhi is still considered illegal and you might find it tricky to find a way to wager on your favourite sports.

As always though, there is always a way to get around it. For one thing, betting on horseracing is considered a game of skill and therefore you are allowed to legally gamble on it.

In the city, between August and May, you can visit the track at the Delhi Race Club twice a week.

Other forms of sports betting, including Delhi cricket betting, are a little trickier. But luckily placing your bets at online sportsbooks is allowed, as long as the sportsbook is based outside of the country.

To date there has been no documented case of online sports bettors facing punishment for betting in Delhi.

Games of Skill

While it is still not legal to wager real money on games of chance in Delhi, you are allowed to bet on games of skill.

Gambling on virtual sports and fantasy sports leagues are all perfectly legal.

Wagering on a number of card games in Delhi is also allowed. This includes playing rummy and poker, both online and offline. Both games were officially deemed games of skill by the Supreme court.

There aren’t any legal online Indian casinos or poker rooms offering these games, but luckily there are plenty of online casinos based outside of Indian that give you the opportunity to play completely legally and without fear of repercussions.