Delhi Gambling Laws

Residents of Delhi, the capital territory of India, have enjoyed different types of gambling throughout Indian history.

In Delhi, sultans and kings have been engaged in gambling, and today, ordinary players are looking for the excitement that real money gambling brings.

Delhi is one of the Indian states which have set up their own laws related to gambling within state borders.

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 Delhi

Gambling from Delhi is simple. Just pick one of the casinos listed at SevenJackpots.

The casino sites listed here are all based outside of India, which means that they are free from Indian gambling laws altogether!

The best foreign casinos are tailored to desi players, and to this day, there have been no prosecutions of players gambling on foreign casino sites in India.

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All forms of gambling except horse racing are prohibited in Delhi as per the Delhi Public Gambling Act, 1955.

This means that if you are taking part in any type of gambling organized within Delhi’s borders, you are committing a crime.

However, as mentioned earlier, you can legally play at online casino sites located outside of India, such as Pure Win, as they are excluded from India’s gambling laws.

The Gambling Laws of New Delhi

In Delhi, all gambling is regulated under the Delhi Public Gambling Act, 1955.

The main focus of the Delhi Public Gambling Act is to restrict underground casinos and organized gambling in so-called “gaming houses”. Gambling in these places is done both online and offline, none of which is considered legal when occurring there.

Delhi’s gambling laws apply to games of chance, not games of skill, which means that there are a few game types that can be played even locally without breaking the law.

Delhi Public Gambling Act, 1955

The Delhi Public Gambling Act, 1955, is the only gambling act used in the state. In other words, the country-wide Public Gambling Act, 1867, does not apply here.

As per the Delhi act, participating in gambling or even being present at a “gaming-house” in Delhi means that you are risking fines of up to ₹500.

Owning and running a “gaming house” risks imprisonment of up to six months, and a fine of up to ₹1000.

These charges are doubled each time a person is found guilty of them.

Casino in New Delhi

New Delhi is the capital of India, and also a huge hub for underground gambling. Secret “gaming houses” are being set up in some of the cities’ many hotels or farmhouses, and players are invited there to play.

In recent years, New Delhi police have worked hard on raiding various establishments, arresting organizers, and punishing players, who come from all over India to play here.

New Delhi Gaming Houses

The illegal “gaming houses” are usually only available to members or on an invite-only basis. Big-spending players are given accommodation and travel in exchange for an entry fee to the house.

Once there, gambling is nowadays often done using online software and apps. Players are given login credentials and use cryptocurrency to fund their gambling to make funds harder to trace.

Lottery in Delhi

Although lotteries are insanely popular in India, local Delhi lotteries are illegal.

That said, it is only offering lottery games that are considered illegal, you are still allowed to play, as long as you play on a lottery located outside of Delhi.

Thanks to the Lottery Regulations Act 1998, several Indian states offer local lotteries. You’re also able to purchase online lottery tickets at global lotteries at one of the many lottery sites listed.

Sports betting in Delhi

Like other gambling forms, sports betting is seen as a game of chance and is, therefore, completely illegal to organize or participate in from within Delhi.

Thankfully for you, many online casino sites offer a sportsbook of their own where you can place bets on various sports.

Foreign casinos offer the latest and best odds, even on Indian games such as the IPL and Kabaddi.

Horse racing in Delhi

Rather surprisingly, placing real money bets on horse racing is something you can do locally and legally in Delhi!

Bets can be placed directly at the Delhi Race Club or from one of the off-site betting counters around New Delhi.

Just as with regular sports betting, you can also bet on horse races through a foreign gambling site.

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

Rummy can be played in Delhi as it is considered to be a game of skill. Other card games, like Andar Bahar, Teen Patti, and blackjack, are games of chance and are therefore not available locally.

That said, you’re still able to find card games like these and many others at foreign offshore casino sites.

To sum it up

Gambling in Delhi is only problematic if you are doing so from a local gaming house.

The best online casino site in India is still a much easier, safer, and more trustworthy option.

We list only the very best Indian gambling sites here at SevenJackpots, all available for you, whether you live in Delhi or elsewhere.

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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