According to recent findings, the online poker industry is one of the most rapidly growing markets throughout India. Not only is the industry currently valued at over 43.8 million Indian rupees , but experts project that it will continue to grow by between 35-40% each year. In 2023, it will be worth around 11.8 million rupees.
If you love to play poker, it's clear that you're far from alone. However, because of the popularity of online poker, it's critical that you only play online poker in India at a reputable casino. Here, we're going to give you some information about how to set up payment and choose a casino that will work for your needs!
Popular High-Traffic Poker Sites in India
It's time to begin choosing the site that you want to play on! There are a few ways that you can do this, including considering site traffic, looking and bonuses, and deciding what types of poker you want to play. Here are a few of the highest-traffic and most well-known Indian poker websites out there!
Bodog India
Bodog India is the newest site from the global brand Bodog. Bodog is one of the oldest brands in online poker having started in 1994. It has one of the largest poker player pools in the world with it's partner sites operating in Canada, The United States, Asia, South America and Australia.
Bodog India includes a poker room that has an overall recreational vibe. This is because the player model itself takes active measures to prevent site users from losing their money to cardsharks too quickly.
Bodog Features:
There is a new play now feature that let's you play poker without downloading a poker client through the browser. This includes mobile Poker on your phones internet browser of choice.
There is a maximum of 4 tables per person on Bodog India. This prevents other professional players from playing too many tables and colluding.
The tables are anonymous on Bodog India. This means no player has a screen name. This stops people from using statistical software to cheat by analyzing their opposition.
Traffic: Approximately 500 players at a time (large platform).
Payment methods: Credit/Debit at major banks in India, online wallets, bitcoin (very popular)
New player bonus information: 120% cash bonus up to 25,000 rupees AND a 25x roll over on slots
Bodog India isn't only a poker site- it also has live dealer blackjack and other card games, if you're interested in diversifying your gameplay. In addition to being accessible to all Indian customers, people from Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka can also play!
More India Poker sites will be added soon to Poker Site Traffic!
The History of Online Poker in India and Its Legality
If you reside in India and aren't sure whether or not you can legally play online poker, we have some good news for you. Playing poker on the internet is 100% legal in India so long as it complies with federal regulations.
At this point, you may be wondering whether this conflicts with other information about gambling in India that you have heard before. This is a natural thought because it seems to conflict with the Public Gambling Act of 1867 that is still in effect across the nation. This legislation states that gaming houses are not to be operated throughout India because they want to avoid games of chance.
Poker is legal entirely based on a loophole in the legislation. The act defines gambling as games of chance, but the Indian Supreme Court ruled that games of skill are still legal when faced with a case regarding online rummy.
While the Supreme Court has not confirmed that poker is a game of skill yet, it is legal regardless. The Madras High Court in India deemed poker legal after a game was found out by the authorities. As a result, online poker is also legal. The Supreme Court will likely agree with this ruling in time.
Poker Site Traffic's goal is to provide factual data and information on every online poker site in every country in the world. We are not qualified legal experts. You should seek advice from a legal professional about your specific situation and location if you are unsure. See our Terms of Service for more info.
Payment Methods for Indian Poker Players
When it comes to playing legal online poker in India, there are a few different payment options that you can use.
Different online casinos accept different payment forms, so you will need to look into the specifics of the site that you select. However, if you want to use a certain form of payment, it's important that you look for a site that allows it. Let's take a look at some common ways that you can bet on poker so that you can decide which is best for you.
Credit and Debit Card
The first (and most common) payment option for India online casinos is a credit or debit payment. Most poker websites allow money to be charged from any card that's under your name. They usually also allow cash to be taken directly from a checking account.
To use this payment option, you will generally need to enter some personal information on the website. This includes your name, birthday, and banking information. Once that is done, you will be able to place bets safely, securely, and legally as soon as your identity is verified.
Digital Wallet Services
Online wallets like PayPal and Venmo have been growing in popularity in recent years. Most gambling and poker websites accept these major payment methods. All you need to do is link them to your bank and to the poker site. This will connect your bank to the webpage with a middleman that keeps your information secure.
Bitcoin
Bitcoin (₿) is a form of cryptocurrency that can be used to make direct and anonymous transactions. It does not require a centralised bank to be transmitted from point A to point B, but rather goes there directly via an anonymous network. All bitcoin transactions are recorded in a blockchain to ensure that everyone gets the money that they are owed.
Bitcoin was the first decentralised currency and is 100% untraceable in the network. While it has been criticised in the past for making illegal activity easier, this is not a problem for most bitcoin users. Many people like it because it provides an extra layer of security and does not give gambling sites access to their personal and financial information.
The History of Bitcoin in India
Bitcoin was first invented by an anonymous entity that called them self Satoshi Nakamoto. He published an essay detailing the uses and functionality of bitcoin in October 2008. On 3 January 2009, bitcoin began to be used in some online circles.
In India, however, this was not the case.
Though the cryptocurrency went largely ignored at first, it came into the public eye as something used for illegal transactions in 2018. At this point, finance minister Arun Jaitley made it clear where he stood on the issue of bitcoin. He said that the government would continue to do all in its power to stop bitcoin from being used for criminal purposes. At this point, he reiterated, bitcoin was not recognised as legal tender in India.
India's central bank was quick to act, placing a ban on buying and selling bitcoin.
Is Bitcoin Legal in India Today?
In 2019, the Internet and Mobile Association of India questioned the bitcoin ban placed by the bank of India. They brought the case as a petition to the Supreme Court of India, asking for the legalisation of bitcoin. They would not hear the verdict until the next year.
Finally, in March 2020, the battle for the legalisation of bitcoin was finally won! You can now find bitcoin being used legally for transactions, purchases, trade, mining, and, of course, gambling.
Most Indian casinos and online poker sites accept bitcoin as a form of payment. While some people question whether or not this is a good idea- usually because they are worried about the potential for bitcoin being used illegally- other people prefer to place bitcoin bets as it offers a different experience. They don't need to give a gambling site any personal information to do so and therefore feel more secure when you start playing.
Play Online Poker in India Today
While there are many aspects to playing poker on the net, choosing the right website to play on is one of the most important.
Now that you know some of the most popular websites where you can play online poker in India, it's time to get started. Check out the rest of our webpage to browse some casinos that you're sure to love once you try. We partner exclusively with casinos that have a reliable history of payout and a diverse range of poker games, so there's sure to be something for you.
May the odds be ever in your favour!
Remember to always gamble responsible and stay in control. If you think you're in trouble, get help. Check out our Responsible Gambling page for some online resources.