India offers tourists and travelers a lot to discover: natural beauty, ruins of ancient cities, a unique culture, and a cuisine that is very different from what you are used to. You can spend months in this country and still find something surprising in every corner. However, for some tourists, the way to have fun is to try their luck, and they definitely go to the local casinos in every country they visit. You can do this in India too, but due to local laws, you need to be more careful than ever and make sure you are not breaking the law.
Here, we will talk about the most important things you need to know before you make a deposit using UPI in casino to help you do this. If you want to check out an up-to-date list of the best casinos where you can try your luck, you can visit the Roulette77 platform.
Let’s say you walk into the first casino you see, head to a roulette table, and are about to place a bet on voisins du zero. But are you sure you’re in a legal business? As in many other countries, you can find businesses in India where you can play cards, table games, and slot machines, but not all of them operate legally.
India is a state-divided country, and in this respect, it resembles the United States. While there are federal laws that apply to all states, each state is allowed to make its own regulations on certain matters. Gambling falls into this second category. In other words, only a few Indian states have legalized land-based and online gambling. If the casino you’re trying your luck at is not in one of these states, it’s not legal, and you’re breaking the law. This can be a pretty serious offense: local laws stipulate a fine or a prison sentence, and the prison sentence can be as long as three months.
So, in which states can you legally gamble? As of May 2025, there are three states where you can do this:
Sikkim: It has two legal businesses, Casino Mahjong, and Casino Sikkim.
Goa: There are a total of ten casinos here, but only six are land-based. Four of them are boat casinos operating on the Mandovi River.
Daman: You can find casinos on the ground floor of five-star hotels.
The Goa, Daman, and Diu Public Gambling Act (1976) legalized land-based casinos years ago, and online gambling has also been legalized in these states with some restrictions. In short, if you are going to visit a casino, make sure you are in one of these three states, otherwise, you are in an illegal gambling den and breaking the law.
Once you find a legal casino, you can start trying your hand at games like roulette, blackjack, baccarat, and poker, but remember that each casino has its own etiquette rules. If you don’t follow them, you could be asked to leave the casino and, in some cases, you could even be breaking the law. The most important ones are:
Check for dress codes. Some casinos may not allow you to wear casual clothes such as shorts and a T-shirt. For example, you may be asked to wear shoes instead of sandals.
Follow the rules of the gaming tables. The most important of these is where your hand is placed. For example, once the wheel starts spinning, your hand should not be on the roulette table. Or, when playing blackjack, be careful not to touch the table beyond your designated area.
Be respectful of the dealer and other players. Do not talk loudly at the gaming table and avoid any behavior that may disturb other players. Be polite to the dealer.
Besides the ones we’ve listed here, keep in mind that each casino may have its own etiquette rules. We recommend that you read them carefully before heading to a gaming table.
While gambling is illegal outside of the states listed above, there is one exception: card rooms. You can find them in many different places in India, but they are usually located in country clubs. The reason they are legal is that they only feature card games (like poker) and do not involve real money. This means you play with the card room’s chips, which have no monetary value, but keep in mind that you will still have to pay a fee for the room.
This experience will be less exciting since there is no real money involved, but it can still be quite enjoyable. If you are interested in card games and don’t want to travel to a different state to try them out, card rooms are your best bet. You can try your luck legally in India using the information we have shared here: may Lady Luck be with you in advance!