Best Sites for Online Poker in India for December 2024
Poker online in India is actually much easier to access than you may think. With the best sites just a few clicks away, you can play online poker right now and even benefit from a big welcome bonus when you join. Our expert team covers the best poker sites in India to give you the full scoop.
Play Poker Online in India at These Top Sites
| No 1 Crypto Poker |
CoinPoker |
150% Welcome Bonus up to $2,000 |
150% Welcome Bonus up to $2,000
|
CoinPoker
|
PLAY NOW |
| Play Hi-Lo Stud |
Americas Card Room |
100% up to $2,000 Welcome Offer |
100% up to $2,000 Welcome Offer
|
Americas Card Room
|
PLAY NOW |
| WSOP Qualifiers |
Black Chip Poker |
100% up to $2,000 Welcome Offer |
100% up to $2,000 Welcome Offer
|
Black Chip Poker
|
PLAY NOW |
| Bad Beat Jackpot 2.0 |
BetOnline |
100% UP TO $1,000 + 21 Satellite Tickets With code: POKER1000 |
100% UP TO $1,000 + 21 Satellite Tickets With code: POKER1000
|
BetOnline
|
PLAY NOW |
| Play 7 Card Stud |
Ya Poker |
Poker Bonus of 100% up to $2,000 |
Poker Bonus of 100% up to $2,000
|
Ya Poker
|
PLAY NOW |
Indian Poker Sites Ranked by Traffic
| Poker Site | 7 Day avg | Online | Cash | 24 H Peak | Last Week | Play Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PokerBaazi | 750 | 1150 | 1376 | |||
| MPL Poker | 375 | 675 | ||||
| Gamezy | 280 | 340 | ||||
| Pocket52 | 160 | 315 | ||||
| Adda52 | 150 | 250 | 344 | |||
| A23 Poker | 100 | 215 | ||||
| Bunga365 | 45 | 110 | ||||
| PokerDangal | 14 | 40 | ||||
| PokerSaint | 5 | 20 | ||||
| Khelo365 | 3 | 18 | 4 | 22 | ||
| 9stacks | 5 | |||||
| Spartan Poker | 79 |
Best Site for Online Free Poker in India
A great way to start playing poker online in India is on free poker sites. This way, you can practice without spending a single cent while still enjoying the game and having fun. While not all of the best poker sites offer free games online, we have the perfect platforms for you.
Top recommendation: BetOnline Poker
The user-friendly interface at BetOnline Poker India makes it very easy for new players to sign up and join the tables. You can create a new account for free and start up the poker room in instant play, directly on the browser. Then, select the “Play Money” tab for cash games and you will find an entire list of tables for Hold’em and for Omaha.
You get 1,000 play money credits to play online poker for free on the site, but you can always reset the amount if you lose. It’s worth mentioning that the stakes here go up to 50/100 blinds with a minimum buy-in of 8,000 chips. This means that there is a level of competition even with free online poker in India since you have to win in order to move up the levels.
While play money tournaments are not available at BetOnline, you will find various freerolls throughout the week. Some even have prize pools worth $500 or more, so you can actually win real money by playing free online poker games.
- Fast seating with Boost for zero waiting time
- Huge tournaments like Sunday Million and PKO's
- Solid traffic on Chico Poker Network
Best Site for Poker Online Beginners in India
Arguably the most difficult part for beginners is finding the right online poker sites. India is home to renowned brands, but these are not always advertised properly in the country. So, if you are looking for a great poker room that is welcoming and doesn’t punish beginners, we have you covered.
Top recommendation: CoinPoker
CoinPoker has the best poker client in India, with an interface that is easy to navigate and doesn’t overwhelm new players. Moreover, it covers very low stakes, starting from blinds of just $0.01/$0.02 for cash games. This means that beginners can register and play with as little as a $10 deposit.
Another advantage is that the India poker site doesn’t have that many sharks, especially at micro and low stakes. We found loads of crossover traffic from the casino and sportsbook products, which results in loose gameplay at the poker tables. This makes for a great environment for players who just want to learn the game and still win some pots in the process.
Traffic on CoinPoker is great as this is one of the leading poker sites in India, so you can always check out another table if you don’t like the opponents. The buy-ins for tournaments also cater to all types of players and beginners can take their pick from free events, low satellites, and even jackpot sit & go’s from as little as $0.25.
- Free from deposit & withdrawal fees on cryptocurrencies
- Get 33% rakeback every Monday
- Anonymous poker with easy registration
Best Site for Online Poker Cash Games in India
While it is difficult to recommend just one India online poker site for all cash games, we believe that many of the perks of premium poker rooms apply across the entire range of stakes. Of course, traffic is important to make sure that you have plenty of options at your preferred blinds.
Top recommendation: CoinPoker
CoinPoker comes out on top of the best online poker sites in India for cash games. First of all, the lobby has a great interface that makes it easy to browse the tables and find the right ones. Secondly, CoinPoker uses a decentralised RNG that ensures fair shuffling and random results. It is even better than the normal shuffling you might find in local poker rooms in India.
The range of cash games is enough to please everyone, starting from $0.01/$0.02 blinds and going up to $500/$1,000 for no limit Hold’em. Omaha cash games at CoinPoker can go even higher, but we found that traffic is very low at these stakes.
In addition to the offering of active tables, CoinPoker also stands out with its rewards for cash game players. These include a 33% rakeback, daily cash game leaderboards with real prizes, and a Bad Beat Jackpot. Plus, the interface looks great and you can customise the view to your liking.
- Free from deposit & withdrawal fees on cryptocurrencies
- Get 33% rakeback every Monday
- Anonymous poker with easy registration
Best Site for Online Poker Tournaments in India
Indian poker online players definitely have a lot of great options when it comes to tournaments. With the best real money poker sites available in the country, the schedule is very busy regardless of what stakes you want to play on.
Top recommendation: ACR Poker
Americas Cardroom nudges ahead of the competition in this category and is the best India poker site for tournaments. It has an amazing range of events that doesn’t just include standard tournaments, but also various other formats, such as knockout, mega stack, hyper turbo, and more.
Plus, if the regular offering isn’t enough, ACR Poker India also hosts the Online Super Series at three levels, catering to all types of players. These special series often come with big guarantees across hundreds of tournaments.
Other notable highlights in this category include the Sit ‘n Go steps and the jackpot Sit ‘n Go events with random prizes that can go up to $1,000,000. ACR Poker also offers staking for some of its tournaments and so you can buy a stake in someone else’s buy-in or sell a stake in yours.
- Blitz poker for speed and convenience
- Seven card stud poker available
- WPN network with solid player base
Best Poker App in India
Online poker for real money in India is also easy to access on mobile devices. While all of the top sites are available on some platforms, there are some poke apps that stand out when it comes to mobile poker.
Top recommendation: CoinPoker
With optimised mobile apps that bring the same games and features found on the desktop client, it doesn’t come as a surprise to learn that CoinPoker is the best real money poker app in India. It is available for iPhone and Android phones, and the installation process is very simple. You just have to go to the site and download the app.
After setting everything up, you can access the same cash games, tournaments, events, and even casino games. The mobile view is a bit more compact, both for the lobby and for the actual table, but the buttons are clear and make it easy to play in landscape view. You can even have multiple tables open at the same time on the poker app from anywhere in India.
- Free from deposit & withdrawal fees on cryptocurrencies
- Get 33% rakeback every Monday
- Anonymous poker with easy registration
Comparing the Best Poker Sites in India
All of the featured online poker real money sites in India are worth checking out. However, there are some differences to consider and you can compare some of them in the following table. Find the perfect site and play poker online in a matter of minutes.
| Poker Site | Welcome Bonus | Rakeback | Poker Games | Fast Fold Poker | Freerolls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CoinPoker | 150% up to $2,000 | 33% | Texas Hold’em, Omaha, 5-Card Omaha | ❌ | ✅ |
| ACR Poker | 100% up to $2,000 | 27% | Texas Hold’em, Omaha, 5-Card Omaha, 7-Card Stud | Blitz Poker | ✅ |
| Black Chip Poker | 100% up to $2,000 | 27% | Texas Hold’em, Omaha, 5-Card Omaha, 7-Card Stud | Blitz Poker | ✅ |
| BetOnline Poker | 100% up to $1,000 + 21 tournament tickets | 25% | Texas Hold’em, Omaha, 5-Card Omaha, 6-Card Omaha, Open Face Chinese | Boost Poker | ✅ |
| Ya Poker | 100% up to $2,000 | 27% | Texas Hold’em, Omaha, 5-Card Omaha, 7-Card Stud | Blitz Poker | ✅ |
Reviewing Three of the Best Online Poker Sites in India
Learn more about the top real money poker online sites for Indian players before joining. We have reviewed each in detail and you can find the highlights below to help you choose the perfect online poker room from the very start.
1. CoinPoker – No. 1 Poker Online Site for Real Money in India
- Poker Site: CoinPoker.com
- Established: 2017
- License: Curacao eGaming
CoinPoker is a crypto poker site that is available throughout India and beyond. The international player base ensures that the poker room has good traffic at any time. This results in loads of cash games and some of the biggest poker tournaments online. Moreover, you can open private tables and play poker online with friends.
There are also other perks that come with the crypto platform, including a fair RNG system, anonymous sign-up, and fast withdrawals. The downside is that you can only deposit using major cryptocurrencies. There is an option to add funds to your poker account directly through an exchange, which opens up more banking methods.
After reviewing the best poker sites in India, we can safely say that CoinPoker has the best client. Not only does it look great, but the tables also run smoothly thanks to the high-end graphics and animations. This remains the case when switching from desktop to mobile devices.
Pros
- Bigger welcome bonus than on other sites
- Fast registration without personal details
- Great mobile poker app available in India
- Exciting tournament series with big guarantees
Cons
- Doesn’t have an instant play poker version
- Can only withdraw to a crypto wallet
- Free from deposit & withdrawal fees on cryptocurrencies
- Get 33% rakeback every Monday
- Anonymous poker with easy registration
2. ACR Poker – Best Variety of Poker Games in India
- Poker Site: AmericasCardroom.eu
- Established: 2001
- License: Curacao eGaming
ACR Poker, also known as Americas Cardroom, is an international online poker room that is very popular among Indian players. First of all, it is part of the Winning Poker Network, which means that it gets great traffic. With thousands of players online at any time, you can always find an empty seat at a live table to join the action.
The client is available by download for Mac, desktop, and Android. It doesn’t currently have a poker app in India for iPhone, but this should change soon. After installing it, you will find a familiar layout with quick access to cash games, fast-fold games known as Blitz, tournaments, staking, jackpot sit & go, regular sit & go, and a couple of extra tabs for casino and sports.
ACR Poker covers Texas Hold’em and Omaha very well, offering different variations for cash game tables and tournament formats. It also has 5-Card Omaha and Seven Card Stud to ensure a better variety than on other India online poker sites. Plus, banking is simple and to the point, with the cashier supporting credit cards and major cryptocurrencies.
Pros
- Various tournament formats at all stakes
- Blitz fast-fold poker games are fun to play
- Secure banking for real money poker in India
- Guides and video tutorials from ACR Pros, like Tom Dwan
Cons
- Interface doesn’t look as modern as other Indian poker sites
- Withdrawals take 1-2 business days to process
- Blitz poker for speed and convenience
- Seven card stud poker available
- WPN network with solid player base
3. BetOnline Poker – Best Online Poker Promotions for Indian Players
- Poker Site: BetOnline.ag
- Established: 1991
- License: Panama Gaming Commission
BetOnline Poker India comes in as one of the best overall sites. It is the only one on our list that is available in instant play, giving players more freedom when they want to connect. The downloadable apps are also great and available on all devices. Plus, the frequent updates ensure that BetOnline has a modern poker client with the latest features.
However, what we like most about BetOnline for online poker in India is its range of promotions. The operator has improved its bonuses and now makes it more rewarding for players to join. The welcome bonus matches the first deposit and also throws in quite a few tournament tickets for free. There are weekly freerolls available, substantial rakeback payments, and leaderboards for extra prizes.
The real money poker app in India also has a special poker game, in addition to Hold’em and Omaha. Players can check out the Pineapple Classic Open Face Chinese tables for something a bit different.
Pros
- Accepts more than 15 cryptocurrencies and cards
- Daily leaderboards for Sit & Go and Boost tables
- New Bad Beat Jackpot now available by level
- Rich casino section for extra online poker games
Cons
- Cash game stakes only from $0.05/$0.10
- Doesn’t have instant poker withdrawals in India
- Fast seating with Boost for zero waiting time
- Huge tournaments like Sunday Million and PKO's
- Solid traffic on Chico Poker Network
Best Online Poker Games in India
There are several popular options for online poker in India and it can all come down to personal preference. We strongly recommend that you learn how to play and practice with free online poker before putting real money on the table. Check out the main poker variants below.
Texas Hold’em Online Poker in India
When talking about poker online, most players in India refer to Texas Hold’em. This variant is so popular that it has become synonymous with the general game. You will find it on all of the best Indian poker sites and at all stakes. It is also a relatively easy poker game online to learn.
You start at a table that can have one or up to nine opponents, with the action going clockwise from the dealer button. Most Hold’em cash games don’t require an ante from everyone, but there are two blinds that must be paid in order. After this, each player receives two cards, which is followed by a betting round.
Three cards are then dealt on the table, known as community cards. This is followed by another round of betting, another community card, another betting round, and then another card. Once all five community cards are available, a final round of betting is available before the remaining players in the round show their hands. The one with the strongest hand wins the money accumulated in the round, known as the pot.
Omaha Poker
Omaha keeps most of the same rules found in Texas Hold’em. The hands have the same rankings and there are also multiple betting rounds after the cards are dealt. However, there is a distinct difference here and that is the number of cards players start with. Instead of two, every player has four personal cards but must use two for the final hand.
Having two extra hole cards to work with means that you can create stronger hands. As a result, Omaha can be considered more exciting than Hold’em and it is available on all of the top online poker sites in India.
You can also find some special variations of the online poker game. For example, 5-Card Omaha deals five cards for each player, instead of four. There is also 6-Card Omaha, which is pretty self-explanatory at this point. Keep in mind that you must still only use two cards, regardless if you have five or six to start with.
Another Omaha variation is High/Low, which can apply for the other formats covered above. Here, you win with the highest hand and with the lowest hand combinations from your available cards. Two outcomes for the two halves of the pot allow for even more action.
Seven Card Stud Poker
Seven Card Stud changes things up from Hold’em and Omaha, at least in the way the cards are dealt. The basic poker rules remain the same, so you can easily learn how to play it. The main difference here is that there aren’t any community cards. Instead, players receive their own cards.
Out of a total of seven cards per player, five are facing up. This means that you can see most of your opponents’ cards and so the betting strategy is a bit different.
Other Real Money Poker Games in India
Some of the top sites offer other poker games online that are easy to access in India. For example, BetOnline has Open Face Chinese Poker, also known as Pineapple on the site. This version looks very different as you have 13 cards available and must create three different hands, one of three cards and two of five cards, each.
The best India online poker sites also have casino sections within the same client. Here, you can find slots and table games, which include casino poker variations. Options like Casino Hold’em and Caribbean Stud can be great for trying out something new without having to face real opponents.
Plus, you can often play these free online poker games while you wait for a tournament to start and even while at a table.
Teen Patti poker online is available in the casino version as well and some sites even have live versions for more variety.
Banking Methods for Real Money Poker in India
Unlike Europeans and Americans, Indians tend to rely on credit card payments to fund their real money poker accounts. In Sikkim, other popular options include Netbanking and Pay By Cash. When requesting withdrawals, Indian players can choose between a standard wire transfer and check by mail.
Generally speaking, Sikkim-licensed sites don’t accept e-wallet payments and won’t allow you to cash out via Neteller or Skrill. This will undoubtedly be disappointing for any poker fan accustomed to playing in the West.
Luckily, all of the best sites and poker apps in India now support cryptocurrency payments and withdrawals. These come with some of the perks of e-wallets, like fast transactions and low fees, but also add anonymity and an extra layer of security. Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Litecoin are some of the top options in this category.
India’s Online Poker Laws
India is not a gambling-friendly country, although the same may not necessarily apply to online poker in particular. From a legal perspective, everything depends on your local jurisdiction.
India’s laws give individual states the autonomy to introduce their own gambling regulations. In certain ways, the poker situation in India is similar to what Germany and the USA currently have. That said, we won’t take the analogy too far.
On the federal level, Indian laws are quite dated and are so open to interpretation as to make them practically irrelevant.
The most important legal document pertaining to real-money gaming in India is the federal Public Gambling Act of 1867, which makes it illegal for anyone to run a public gaming house or even to be present in an establishment of this sort. However, this law applies exclusively to games of chance. There are two legal precedents which indicate poker is generally considered a game of skill in India.
The first precedent dealt with Rummy. The court decided, despite the fact that the card game involves an element of chance, the skill of participating players has more of an impact on the outcome. The second, more important precedent was set following a raid on a poker club.
The Madras High Court handled the case. It ruled the skill element was more important than the luck of the draw, thus clearing everyone involved of any charges. Another important document is the Information Technology Act of 2000, which makes a distinction between casino games and card games.
All of this sounds like good news. Nevertheless, the truth is there’s nothing to stop other Indian courts from ignoring these precedents and assuming a different point of view, especially if it would be more in line with their local regulations.
What Is or Is Not Legal in India?
Due to the reasons outlined above, ascertaining the legal status of online poker sites in most Indian states is nearly impossible. In most cases, the country’s legislative and judicial branches haven’t tackled the issue yet. The only states that don’t match this picture are Goa and Sikkim.
Goa is a fairly gambling-friendly place, at least by Indian standards. It hosts several land-based casinos. Plus, local regulations openly permit gambling as long as it’s limited to “electronic amusement.” One could question whether online poker falls into this category, but most experts seem to agree online poker enthusiasts have little to worry about.
Then, Sikkim stands as the only Indian state with clear-cut online poker regulations and licensed online poker rooms. The largest of those rooms even has its own roster of sponsored players. It also has a solid selection of games, which include some exotic, India-specific poker variants, such as Crazy Pineapple and Lazy Pineapple.
The minimum legal gambling age in India is 18.
Despite the dubious legal status of online poker in India, most experts agree if playing for real money is indeed legal, players have to pay a 30% income tax on all winnings above 10,000 rupees. Unlike gambling-specific laws, tax regulations are uniform across the country.
Where Can I Play Real Money Poker Online in India?
Luckily, you have a good range of options if you are looking for a great online poker game. The best online poker sites for real money in India are:
- CoinPoker – The overall best Indian online poker site with fast crypto banking.
- ACR Poker – High traffic for loads of cash games and tournaments with big prizes.
- Black Chip Poker – Secure online poker in India site with great features on the client.
- BetOnline Poker – Home of some of the best India poker games, including Pineapple.
- Ya Poker – Licensed and regulated in Curacao and available in all of India.
Where Can I Play Live Poker in India?
There are nine land-based casinos located in India. All of them call Goa and Sikkim home, but only four offer live poker.
Goa state:
- Casino Pride Panaj (six poker tables)
- Casino Pride 2 (eight poker tables)
Sikkam State:
- Casino Sikkam
- Casino Mahjong
It’s also worth noting the state of Daman is preparing to introduce new gambling-friendly legislation. But it is currently impossible to predict whether this will result in local poker rooms opening up.
History of Online Poker in India
Due to the largely unregulated nature of its gambling market, India doesn’t have a history of real money online poker. The nation’s poker scene is simply doing what every other gambling community did when faced with a similar situation: it disregards unclear regulations and simply enjoys the game.
As is almost always the case, authorities aren’t interested in going after individual players, especially if they use VPNs to connect to their favorite sites.
It would be inappropriate for us to tell you whether you should follow in their footsteps. However, we can state with a fair degree of certainty that the risk involved is very small.
Conclusion
The conclusion is that you can play poker online in India on the best international sites. These allow you to sign up within a couple of minutes, make a secure deposit, and join the tables without any hassle. And, after taking down some pots, you can withdraw the winnings just as easily.
The best of the best in this regard is CoinPoker. This leading India online poker site offers cash tables and tournaments for every bankroll. It also has industry-leading bonuses, including 33% rakeback and a generous welcome offer. And on top of everything, withdrawals are instant thanks to the cryptocurrency banking system.
- Free from deposit & withdrawal fees on cryptocurrencies
- Get 33% rakeback every Monday
- Anonymous poker with easy registration
FAQs
Is poker legal in India?
Is real money poker online available in India?
What are the best online poker sites in India?
Can I play poker online for free in India?
Can I play poker online with friends in India?
References
- https://www.custommarketinsights.com/report/india-online-poker-market/ (India Online Poker Market Prediction)
- https://www.statista.com/outlook/amo/online-gambling/india (India Online Gambling Statistics)