India’s experience with gambling is complex. Most types of betting fall under the Public Gambling Act of 1867, which allows the states to enforce that law as they see fit. So, different areas of India have developed different approaches to regulating wagering. Some states now have strong casino businesses, while others continue to ban them. Anybody planning to travel to India with plans to play poker would greatly benefit from understanding which area is best to visit and what will happen once they arrive.
Goa: The Best Place to Play Live Poker in India
When researching live casino gaming in India, the first place most people hear about is Goa. The state issued its first license for land-based casinos over 40 years ago, and currently operates two styles of casino: river cruise casinos and casinos within hotels.
On the river cruises are the biggest names, Deltin Royale and Casino Pride. In addition to slots and other table games, both facilities feature dedicated poker tables. Deltin Royale covers almost 50,000 square feet of gaming space, making it the largest casino in South Asia by most estimates.
Hotel-based casino operations in Goa are much simpler. Hotel-based casinos in Goa like Deltin JAQK (at the Zuri White Sands Resort), Casino Paradise (at the ITC Grand Goa Resort), offer more structured opportunities for Texas Hold’em cash game activity. While the lower-stakes games typically begin running at around 9pm, higher-stake tables often don’t start until later.
Some things to consider when visiting Goa for poker:
- The entry fee can range anywhere from ₹4,400. Typically this includes food/drink credit.
- Government photo identification is necessary to enter any casino.
- Smart casual dress code is enforced on river cruising casinos; however, smart casual is acceptable on hotel based casino operations.
- Games seem to really start heating up after 9 pm on weekends and during major holidays.
Sikkim: North East Region’s Casino Center
In 2006, Sikkim was one of the first Indian States to issue casino legislation.
Hotel Mayfair Gangtok has one of the larger casino floors in Sikkim. Mayfair Casino features multiple versions of roulette and blackjack along with poker. However, the overall limits are relatively low compared to the same offerings found in Goa, and the number of poker enthusiasts in the region is relatively small. For players interested in playing poker in conjunction with hiking/trekking, or simply seeing the Eastern Himalayas, Sikkim provides an alternative option that does not require going out-of-the-way to Goa.
Golden Casino is a second notable gaming floor location in Gangtok — younger than the Mayfair gaming floor location and with a more modern design. Players at the Golden Casino represent a cross-section of regular customers and visitors that stop by en route to Nathula Pass and Tsongmo Lake.
Something to note regarding Sikkim: Sikkim casino gaming floors are significantly smaller and less active than the gaming floors found in Goa.
Online Poker as a Complement to Live Action
Players in India who often travel will find their need for a live session filled by online poker. Many international sites allow players from India to join and there are many forms of poker (Sit & Go’s, Multi Table Tournaments, Cash Games at various buy-ins) so you can maintain your edge between your trips to live action.
One such site used by Indians is CoinPoker. Coinpoker uses a cryptocurrency based system that allows players to easily deposit and withdraw funds from their accounts, especially when traditional banking methods create obstacles for players in areas they reside.
Online play is much different than a live casino session – timing tells are read differently then those physically told through table talk and other actions. Most players view live and online poker as two separate skill sets that have some crossover.
Daman and Other States
Although Daman and Diu are sometimes included in lists alongside Goa and Sikkim as being legitimate casino destinations, the realities are different. Although the laws permit casinos in the area, there is currently no active, operational poker room style facility in the state. The Deltin property located in Daman has been expected to open for several years now but has yet to receive necessary regulatory approvals.
There are other states with ambiguous gaming laws regarding cardroom type gaming, and although some private clubs in cities like Mumbai and Bengaluru do hold regular poker games, they operate in a gray area and would be difficult to visit even with connections to locals.
What to Expect From Indian Casino Poker Rooms
Indian casino poker is somewhat unique compared to what is found in Las Vegas or European card rooms in several key aspects:
- Limited Game Selection. Texas Hold’em is the dominant game variant offered; Pot-Limit Omaha is occasionally offered at some of the larger Goa properties however it is not widespread; other variations of poker are extremely rare.
- Unpublished Rake Structures. At times rake structures may be published prior to a specific event however more commonly than not rake is not provided until after you begin playing.
- Buy-In Range Variance. Deltin currently lists Texas Hold’em blinds from ₹100/₹200 to ₹1,000/₹2,000; players should confirm the minimum buy-in before sittingÂ
- Dealers’ English Proficiency. Dealers at larger Goa and Sikkim properties speak fluent English making communication with the staff simple whether you’re traveling internationally or this is your first experience playing poker.
- Tipping Culture. Unlike many other countries, tipping culture is not prevalent in Indian casinos. However, tipping varies greatly from one property to another.
For travelers looking to include a poker stop during their trip to India, Goa offers the best combination of volume (more tables), frequency (longer history of supporting visiting players) and accessibility.
#Himalayas & #Northeast
Cinephile, Misanthrope, Anti-selfie
Atlas Obscura/Mint/Discover India
