Everything You Need to Know About Playing on Poker online

Nagaland was the first state of India that issued the country’s first online poker license. Since then, the poker industry in India has been flourishing with over a billion active participants. However, at the moment, the poker laws vary from state to state. The Indian poker sites have started to offer all types of poker experiences. You can participate in freeroll tournaments or cash games. In addition, many sites provide attractive promotional offers. 

Things to Consider While Playing Online Poker in India

Listed below are some requirements that you need to take into consideration to play online poker in India.

• Taxation

Before playing online poker in India, you must know that you must pay taxes on poker winnings. The sites deduct this at the source. However, you only need to worry about taxes if you have above 10,000 INR in poker winnings.

• Legality

Betting on games of chance is banned in India by the 1867 Public Gambling Act. 

What is the Public Gambling Act of 1867?

This federal gaming law makes it illegal to own a public gaming house. Further, this law clarifies that you can operate a gaming house if the game is skill-based. That is why this law doesn’t ban horse racing; it is considered a game of skill. However, the classification as a game of chance or skill depends on the state. For example, poker is a game of skill in Nagaland but a game of chance in Gujarat.

States where poker is legal

• Karnataka: Here, poker is legal if played recreationally.
• Goa: As gambling is legal in Goa, poker is legal too.
• Kerala: Poker is a game of skill in Kerala, unlike Rummy.
• Nagaland: Poker is legal in Nagaland; it introduced its licensing system.
• Sikkim: Gambling and poker are allowed because of the Online Betting Rule 2009. 
• West Bengal: Poker in West Bengal is legal due to the Gambling and Prize Competitions Act 1957.

States where poker is illegal

• Maharashtra: Poker is not explicitly banned but betting online is illegal.
• Assam: Here, the Game and Betting Act 1970 has made gambling illegal.
• Andhra Pradesh: The Amended Andhra Pradesh Gaming Act prohibits poker, fantasy sports, Rummy, and real-money online betting.
• Gujarat: Poker is illegal here; it is gambling. 
• Tamil Nadu: In 2020, Tamil Nadu made poker in all forms illegal.
• Odisha: Gambling on skill-based games is illegal; thus, poker is illegal.
• Telangana: All forms of poker and Rummy are illegal.

Types of poker games in India

There are many different poker games you can play on Indian poker sites. Some of them are listed below.

1. 1. Hold’em

Texas Hold’em is the world’s favorite poker game. Every player in the game gets two cards; they have to use them and five community cards to make a five-card hand. A player wins when everyone else folds, or they beat other hands.

2. Omaha

It is similar to Texas Hold’em. But instead of getting two cards each, you get four. The way you bet and the hand ranks are the same as Texas Hold’em.

3. 3. Draw

In the draw poker, you get five cards; you can draw and discard cards to make the best five cards. After everyone finishes drawing cards, the winner gets decided by showdown.

4. 4. Stud

In stud poker, players get some face-up and some face-down cards. In a seven-card stud, you get three face-down and a face-up card. Then betting starts, and you get more cards between each betting round. Except for the final card, all are face up. 

5. 5. Teen Patti

Teen Patti is the Indian Poker. Each player gets three cards, and they start betting. At the end of the betting, if only one person remains in the game, they win. If two players remain, they go to a showdown.

Promotional offers offered by Poker sites

The online poker sites offer many promotional offers to attract players such as:

• Welcome Bonus: New players will get a bonus amount on their first deposit. However, the bonus amount usually has an expiry date, and you need to deposit a minimum amount.
• Reload Bonus: Similar to welcome bonuses but for existing customers.
• Freerolls: They are cash games or tournaments that you can play for free. However, they offer cash prizes or other tournament tickets.
• Challenges: These are challenges provided by the poker site. If you can complete any of the challenges, you will get a reward.

Conclusion

Even though gambling laws are unclear, online poker has become extremely popular in India. The gambling laws depend on the state. In some states, poker is a skill game, and in others, it is gambling and hence prohibited. If you are in one of the states where it is legal, you have to pay taxes. However, you can enjoy a variety of poker types including, Hold’em, Omaha, Draw, Teen Patti, and Stud. To play them online, you have to find a decent poker site. Then, you have to verify your identity and add funds. To add funds, you can use Credit cards, debit cards, net banking, UPI, etc. Finally, you can enjoy the promotional offers provided by the sites, such as welcome bonuses and freerolls.

Playing Eyeless means that a player won’t check the cards dealt with them before placing their stake. They don’t want to overthink their play. They’re confident in the card combination dealt with them and don’t want to make any big bets right down. They’re willing to take a threat by placing the stake without checking the cards first. This is a popular strategy you’ll see at an online summerhouse in India. Chaal is the contrary of playing eyeless. After the player has checked his or her cards, he or she can choose to go grounded on the strength of their card combination or Pack, which simply means to quit the game.

Teen Patti is not like a scrape card game. To win, you must outwit your opponents using your intelligence and confidence. Exercise coupled with the right strategies is the only way to secure triumphs at a teen Patti table. Your strategy and its prosecution will ameliorate as you exercise more.