Gambling In India
Gambling in India is illegal and heavily restricted although illegal gambling is carried out in a few states. The Indian gambling market is estimated at US$160 billion per year of which nearly half is illegally wagered. There are only two states in India where gambling is legally permitted, one is Sikkim and the other is Goa. Sikkim is known to have only one casino while Goa has twelve, out of which seven are land based and the other five operate on the Mandovi River as floating casinos.
Other than lotteries, legal gambling in India is limited to wagering on horse racing. India is still an infant in the gambling scenario but plans for developments are underway, especially with online casinos in India. Sikkim hopes to obtain three online gambling licenses by 2010. Online lottery is operated by Playwin which accepts wagers from players in India, and other states are likely to follow.
Goa with its exotic beaches and lavish lifestyle is the home of luxurious casinos and some of the famous ones are Chances Casino, Treasures Casino and Winners Casino. Casino enthusiasts get to play their favourite games such as Blackjack, Rummy, Stud Poker, Bacarrat and Flash among other card games. A holiday to Goa is incomplete without a trip to one of its exclusive casinos where you can play your favourite blackjack or Poker, toss a glass of martini and probably walk away with a jackpot!
If you’re looking for a casino India with some extra entertainment the Caravela is the place to be. This casino is the first offshore casino in Asia with state of the art gaming facilities. The 215 feet long cruise ship offers morning, evening and night cruises which are truly spectacular. The casino is also the first ever live gaming casino in Asia and is named after the first Portuguese ship that landed in Goa way back in the 16th century. The casino offers you great games and the opportunity of going on a wonderfully serene cruise. You don’t want to miss out on this opportunity of a life time.
The land based casinos in Goa are equally enthralling and they are the Cidade de Goa Beach Resort and Goldfinger Casino where you can enjoy a game of your choice while you enjoy the spectacular scenery of the setting sun. The Holiday Inn Resort Goa and Casino is another awesome place, while the Majorda Beach Resort and Treasures Casino offers slots, video machines, roulette amongst other casino games and the restaurant at these casinos serve sumptuous, delectable food. The Leela Kempinski Goa Resort and The Gaming Club Las Vegas Casino gives a feeling of a mini Las Vegas state of the art casino and offers all the varieties of table and card games. The multi cuisine restaurants serve delicious food and there is loads of entertainment for the young and the young at heart!
While India is hopeful that gambling in India will be legalized over a period of time, Goa and Sikkim continue to enjoy the privilege of gambling. The tourists and the habitants of Goa, bask on the exotic beaches during the day and play at the exclusive casinos at night making the most of every opportunity that comes their way!