Punjab Gambling Laws

The state of Punjab is one of the thirteen Indian states where a state lottery is organized.

Overall, this has given a more liberal view of gambling, and the discussion on regulating instead of criminalizing has been going on for years.

For the time being, gambling falls under the national Public Gambling Act, 1867, which means that most gambling types are illegal, except for when being done online.

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 Punjab

As mentioned, it’s a national law that rules for Punjab people, which means that gambling is mostly illegal.

However, the law was created long before the internet and digital devices, which means that you would still be able to enjoy your favorite games at an online casino site.

Online casinos based outside of India are not affected by Indian law, which means that you would be able to participate in gambling using them without risk.

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In short, gambling is not legal in Punjab, but with “gambling,” we mean old-school games played IRL with people at a casino or gaming house.

Today, you can gamble online freely in Punjab due to the Public Gambling Act, not specifying online casinos as a means of “gambling.”

To put your mind at ease, not one single person has been arrested for playing casino games at a foreign casino online in Punjab.

Gambling Laws in Punjab

Gambling laws in the state of Punjab are based on the Public Gambling Act, 1867, and three sets of regulations refer to the state lottery.

The government of Punjab has long been discussing the creation of a new law that would allow gambling at casinos within the state much like in Goa and Sikkim.

Unfortunately, there has been little progress on this as gambling goes against the beliefs of the many Muslims living there.

Public Gambling Act, 1867

The Public Gambling Act mentions a number of areas where gambling is considered illegal. That said, nowhere in the Act is it stated that gambling is illegal if done online, or in your own home.

You are therefore able to play casino games, live casino table games, lottery, bingo, sportsbook, and much more completely legal, as long as you do so from an online casino.

In the end, the Public Gambling Act, 1867, was written way before the internet and smartphones were even invented.

Casino in Chandigarh

Playing casino in Chandigarh is possible thanks to internet connections and foreign online gambling sites. These sites can be accessed via the web browser or by using the casino’s mobile casino app.

Using a so-called offshore casino ensures that your funds and personal details are kept safe, that you can use secure payment methods like Paytm, and that you aren’t playing illegally.

Casino in Jalandhar

If you want to gamble from Jalandhar, the chances are that you will have to seek your luck and chase your crorepati dreams online like those in Chandigarh.

Although you might be able to find gambling dens in the city, these are illegal, and you’ll risk months of imprisonment and hefty fines if you are caught. We recommend that you choose an online casino listed here instead.

Lottery in Punjab

Punjab is part of the 13 states where state lotteries are available. Here it’s made available by The Lotteries (Regulation) Act, 1998, The Lotteries Regulations Rules, 2010, and the Punjab State Lotteries Rules, 2015.

Lottery tickets to the state lotteries can be purchased from markets, bus stands, railway stations, post offices, and Sewa Kendras all over Punjab.

The lottery results are available in newspapers and online the day after the draw.

Online lottery is banned in the state since February 2020.

Sports betting in Punjab

Just as for any other state under national gambling law, betting on sports is considered illegal. Thankfully for you, online betting is massive, even in India, which means that you can bet on your favorite Cricket team and many other sports directly from your mobile phone.

Sites like Bettilt and BC.Game both offer great sportsbook solutions for all your betting needs. They also often offer free bets, risk-free bets, and boosted odds.

Horse racing in Punjab

In 2013, an appeal was placed for legalizing betting on horse racing with the Punjab Horse Race (Regulation and Management) Bill 2013, but nothing has happened since.

This means that horse racing in Punjab is still regulated by the national laws, making local betting at racecourses legal.

However, if you are looking for easy access to world-class horse racing action, place bets on some of the world’s largest horse races via an online betting casino.

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

Although Rummy is considered a game of skill in many places in India, often played during festive celebrations, controversy surrounds the aspect of playing the game with money together with other people.

Gambling, and exchanging money between people is illegal, so even playing Rummy becomes risky when playing it live.

What is not risky is playing card games at an online casino site. Blackjack, Andar Bahar, Teen Patti, and more are available in a live format, and you won’t have to worry about breaking any laws.

To sum it up

Punjab joins a majority of Indian states using the nationwide gambling laws to dictate what is allowed and not in the world of gambling.

For you, that means you’ll want to choose a foreign online casino that suits you and play there instead.

For any “local” gambling entertainment, you can still enjoy the state lottery, where several punters have become crorepatis by taking home life-changing sums of money.

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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