Bihar Gambling Laws

India’s third-largest state, Bihar, follows the national gambling laws of India. In short, this means that gambling is illegal but that there are major flaws in the laws allowing for legal gambling if done correctly.

This guide will take you through the legal landscape of gambling in Bihar, explaining how you can play from here without having to worry about breaking any laws.

Let’s begin by giving you a hint; online gambling is the way to go. Now, let’s look closer at what that means.

Surbhi Soni Senior Associate at Touchstone Partners

Audited by Surbhi Soni

Senior Associate at Law Firm Touchstone Partners

Last audit on 12th April 2022

How to gamble from Bihar

Gambling from Bihar can be done at any time of day, from any location with a stable internet connection.

You’ll be able to gamble using a computer or mobile device, using any of the online gambling sites listed here at SevenJackpots.

We recommend these casinos because they are licensed, safe, and located outside of India, so they are not affected by the national gambling law.

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Since Bihar follows the Public Gambling Act, 1867, all games of chance are considered illegal in the state.

Games of skill are limited to mainly consider horse race betting and Rummy, but since owning or playing at a gaming house is considered illegal, it’s not recommended to seek out one to play.

As you can see, the gambling act came into effect many years ago, way before the internet and computers were invented. Since the act does not specifically mention online gambling, it’s a way of gaming that can be done in Bihar.

Gambling Laws in Bihar

As mentioned, Bihar’s government has not created any gambling laws specific to the state itself. Instead, they’ve decided to follow along with the national laws of gambling.

The laws state that it’s illegal to gamble in places that are considered a gaming house. This could be any location where people meet to play and where real money changes hands.

Interestingly, since Bihar’s population is mainly Buddhist and alcohol is banned, gambling is not a big issue.

Casino in Patna

In Patna, Bihar’s capital city, players can enjoy online casino games from offshore operators when they wish to gamble.

Here, there’s also a good selection of Internet providers to choose from, giving a fast and reliable internet connection for a good online gaming experience. DirectNET, Smart, Eronet, and Jio are all popular options.

Casino in Darbhanga

Just as for Patna, the gambling laws of India apply in the same manner here. What Darbhanga gambling enthusiasts have over Patna is the geographical location.

Darbhanga is closer to Sikkim, which means that legal land-based gambling is just a road trip away! Those who don’t feel like taking the trip can still play casino games legally on their online devices.

Lottery in Bihar

Bihar is not part of the states that have allowed national lotteries to be run in the state. Bihar has set up the Bihar Ban on Lottery Act, 1993, which specifically states that lotteries are illegal within the state of Bihar.

Thankfully, online casino sites offer lottery tickets from some of the world’s largest draws. So although you aren’t able to buy physical lottery tickets, you can buy them online, giving you the chance of becoming a crorepati if the numbers work in your favor!

Sports betting in Bihar

Like in the rest of India, sports betting in Bihar is considered a game of chance and is therefore deemed illegal.

That said, illegal underground betting still happens from time to time here, especially during Cricket season, but since offshore casinos offer bets on most large sports events in the world, many turn to these sites to place their bets instead.

Horse racing in Bihar

Horse racing is one way of betting legal within the states following the Public Gambling Act, of which Bihar is part.

That said, Bihar is not a state commonly connected to horse racing in the same way that, for example, Karnataka and Maharashtra are, so there aren’t any options to place bets through local Turf Clubs.

However, online casinos will offer bets on larger horse races, but unfortunately not on local ones.

Status on Rummy, Poker, Flush, and other card games

These types of card games fall under games of skill in India, which, technically, means that they are legal games.

However, the issue is connected to the real money gambling that is involved. People have been arrested for playing card games for money simply because it hasn’t been clear that the game they played was one based on skill.

To sum it up

Players in Bihar are in a great position for gambling thanks to the archaic gambling laws used. You’re able to gamble online without the risk of breaking any laws, as long as you are gambling at a casino that is not physically present within India.

The sites that we list here are all tested by us. They are licensed, fair, and offer safe, fast, and secure payment methods.

Disclaimer: This material is for general information only and is not intended as legal advice and no duty of care is owed to any reader. The readers of this material are requested to engage their own legal counsel in order to make any legal or business decisions and to obtain legal advice specific to them.

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