Is Online Rummy Legal in India?

Many people have this question, is playing online rummy legal in India? The one-word answer is: YES.
Playing rummy online is legal in India.

RummyVerse is operated by Boom Games Pvt. Ltd., a company incorporated as per the Companies Act 1956, having its registered office at B - 1, Basement, Krushal Commercial Complex, Above Shoppers Stop, Ghatkopar Mahul Road, Chembur West, Mumbai - 400089.

Gaming legislations in all states in India with the exception of Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Nagaland, Odisha, Sikkim & Telangana exempt “games of mere skill” from the definition of gambling. In 1967 the Supreme Court ruled that the game of rummy is a game of skill and playing rummy does not amount to gambling.

Over the past few decades, various High Courts have quoted the apex court’s decision and stated that law enforcement authorities cannot interfere with the game of rummy played with stakes. In 1996, a three-judge bench of the Supreme Court affirmed its 1967 judgment and ruled that games involving a substantial and preponderant degree of skill fall within the definition of ‘games of mere skill’ and added that betting on horse-racing is a game of skill outside the ambit of gambling.

In 2015, the Supreme Court noted that observations of a 2012 Madras High Court order which held rummy for stakes to be illegal did not survive and deemed that order to be withdrawn. Various Supreme Court judgments have also noted that offering games of skill is a fundamental right under the Indian constitution and consequently games of skill cannot be prohibited.

Based on this legal background, various legal experts and jurists have opined that online rummy is completely legal in India.

Boom Games Pvt. Ltd. complies with all laws and regulations applicable to online games of skill. Boom Games Pvt. Ltd. will further comply with any change in this present legal position due to any order of a court of competent jurisdiction, regulatory body, central or state government or law enforcement agency.

We permit players from all states and union territories in India except Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Nagaland, Odisha, Sikkim & Telangana. Since the gaming legislations in these states do not exempt games of skill, we do not permit residents of Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Nagaland, Odisha, Sikkim & Telangana to play real money rummy at present.

For any further clarifications or information on the legality of playing on this website, contact [email protected]