The Public Gambling Act of 1867, which applies to all of India, makes it a crime to either run a “public gaming house” or to even be present at one, and provides criminal penalties for both”. 39167 to 39169 of 2013) the Court ruled that playing skill games like poker in recreational club is permitted and no license is required for the same on 8 th October 2013.ĭespite the limited applicability of the High Court verdict, the decision is a welcome first step in recognizing poker as a game of skill and would open floodgates for online and offline poker especially in Karnataka.Īs per Indian Constitution, gambling comes within state subject and therefore the central act is applicable in all the states which do not have any particular gambling laws. In this historic observation passed by the Karnataka High Court in Indian Poker Association v. The order further directed the Police not to interfere with lawful activities of the club. Justice AS Bopanna of the Karnataka High Court in a matter concerning arrests and raids in various Bangalore clubs for organizing poker games observed, “Having taken note of that in respect of the game of poker if played as a game of skill, license is not contemplated and further keeping in view the fact that permission in this case had been obtained in that regard, the petitioner would be entitled to conduct such games provided, the same is in accordance with law”. In this article, Himanshi Srivastava of Amity Law School (Lucknow) discusses Legality of Poker in India.
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