Poker is a popular facet of the entire online gambling spectrum. Players can experience India legal online poker through legally sanctioned offshore gambling sites. These offshore poker sites provide a developed online poker platform that supports single-game and tournament gameplay with different game types. The poker suites are either proprietary or developed by some of the top online gambling software developers. With an easy-to-use interface, free play and real money gambling, customization settings, and poker bonuses, these offshore poker sites present unique outlets for Indian residents to get in on legitimate poker action. You can gamble with Indian rupees, eliminating the need for an exchange service. This page was developed exclusively for India players, to learn everything you need to know about playing poker online. We also created a similar page devoted to covering information about India legal online casinos.
Is Online Poker Legal In India?
Yes. There are 3 federal India gambling laws that oversee all gambling forms. Online gambling is not mentioned anywhere in these laws, making it legal for Indian residents to play with offshore operators as long as they are legally sanctioned. 
The 3 federal gambling laws are:
As you can see, these laws are bit outdated, explaining their inability to address the modern gambling landscape. The Public Gambling Act of 1867 made it illegal to operate a physical gaming house. However, the law fails to mention online gambling and also includes provisions for games of skill, which gambling forms fall under. The Prize Competition Act handles prize/lottery based games where prize amounts are higher than 1,000 rupees. The law seems to apply more to slot games, making it difficult to use it as a measure of enforcement on online poker. The Information Technology Act of 2000 is a broad benchmark on general online activity. It deems content viewed as malicious to be illegal, which some have argued gambling content is, but that argument does not hold up legally and leaves a tentative grasp on the legal online poker market. Individual providences can implement their own laws, and a couple (Sikkim and Goa) have allowed brick-and-mortar gambling.
Top Online Poker Sites Accepting Players From India
Below is a table comprised of the best available online poker sites accepting India’s residents. Our team of online gambling experts sifted through many different online brands to determine which ones are legitimate and are India-friendly. We put each brand through a stringent screening process that checks for:
- Legal licensing
- Regulatory standards
- Game type selection
- Strong security protocols
- Reliable customer support
- Bonus/promotional incentives
- Banking suites that accept Indian rupees
All of the brands listed in the table have met these qualifications. They have been in the industry for years and established positive reputations upheld by both industry insiders and players from casual to avid. If you are interested in legal online poker options, take a moment to browse through our suggested poker sites via the links provided in the table. There is no obligation to sign up or play a single hand when viewing the site(s), so you explore risk-free. The same goes for online casinos and sportsbooks.
| Site Name | Bonus Offer | Accepts India | Visit Site |
|---|---|---|---|
 | 100% Max $2,500 |  | Play Now |
 | 100% Max $2,500 | | Play Now |
How Does Offshore Poker Work?
Most reputable offshore poker operators offer gameplay through a downloadable software. This is software can be developed in-house (as is common with large gambling enterprises) or by leading gambling software companies. In any case, you can rest assured you will be experiencing the high-quality play that emulates the experience of playing at a physical table, with a few additional perks. Gameplay is coordinated through an easy-to-use lobby interface. Players can see the different game types available, table size, pot limit, etc. You can adjust your search settings to match your preferred game options easily through the dashboard. You can also toggle between real money gambling and free play—free play is beneficial for familiarizing yourself with new games and testing out game strategies. Once you enter into a game lobby, you will see a 3-D rendering of a poker table as well as several buttons for player actions, such as ‘hit’, ‘stay’, etc.
What Game Types Are Available?
- Texas Hold ‘Em
- Omaha
- Hi/Lo
- Variants of these
Our research shows these common types are available through India-friendly poker sites. There are also many different variations offered, such as games with reduced decks, slightly altered rules regarding card values, etc. Players have a decent amount of options available to them. You can find How-To guides for each poker type built into the site.
How Do Online Poker Tournaments Work?
Our recommended online poker brands feature daily tournaments with low to high buy-in levels. Jackpots increase if there are no winners, creating opportunities for hefty payouts. You can easily access tournament platforms through the player interface, jumping between tables and lobbies. Terms and conditions are listed for each tournament on our recommended sites.
What Are Poker Bonuses?
Bonuses are part of what makes offshore gambling unique from brick-and-mortar establishments. Poker bonuses differ from the standard bonus types in that they are typically offered incrementally. It is not uncommon for offshore sites to implement some type of VIP tier structure, rewarding players as their activity increases. Bonuses are designed to incentivize players to keep up with the site. Pay attention to the terms and conditions of each bonus, particularly with playthrough requirements, as these can affect when you can make withdrawals. More information can be found on the bonus page(s) of our recommended online poker brands.
Can I Use Indian Rupees To Fund My Online Poker Account?
Yes. Most premium online gambling brands support INR as a viable form of currency. In the event that one of the poker sites does not accept Rupees, they will offer a reasonable currency conversion option for you. Our research has shown the following to be the most common online deposit methods available to Indian bettors:
- Credit/debit cards (Visa, MasterCard, MaestroCard)
- Cryptocurrencies, including: Bitcoin, Litecoin, Ethereum and Dash
- PayPal
- eWallets (PaySafeCard, Skrill, Neteller)
- Entropay
- Wire transfers
- Cheques
There are minimum and maximum deposit levels enforced with each method and processing times may vary. Most fees are waived, allowing players to make the most of their deposits. The same options and principles also apply to rupee online casinos.
Can I Play Real Money Poker On My Smartphone?
Yes. Our recommended poker sites feature a mobile component for players looking for on-the-go action. Players can download a mobile app designed specifically for poker. With an easy-to-use interface, players can toggle between multiple game types and single-game/tournament formats. If you would prefer to not download an app, there is a web-based application accessible through your device’s web browser. Gameplay is considerably faster on the mobile version and responsive design technology helps keep design and functionality consistent across varying screen size dimensions. If graphics render with errors or seem jerky, we recommend you turn off the sound in your device settings. You can also enjoy mobile betting through our recommended legal India offshore sportsbooks and online casino destinations as well. On our India legal mobile casinos page, you will find our recommendations for the best mobile casinos that accept India registrations.