Legality of poker?

In train we weren't even playing for money - we were just playing donkey or something like that - but someone was tracking how many times each one won - and that paper got us into trouble.

underground - with so many unknowns - with no real political / enforcement power is a sureshot recipe for disaster anywhere. There will definitely be some or other idiot reading this group who would want to make some quick bucks off this by busting that game.

ya.
someone has to find a way around it.
not feasible to go to goa for tournaments too often

having Local area coordinators and making them have small home games could be a way out
there is no law against private gambling as long as it is in my own house and the house is not making any money..
so that can be a way to at least have awareness and teach people and have those ranking tournaments for everyone.. and then take it from there..
say u cover all the areas in delhi over a period of time.. then u can have all the winners from all those areas facing off or something..
just suggesting ways to get around it..

gambling is illegal - private / public in all parts of India except Goa (and sikkim I think).

Haven't you heard of diwali raids of houses for catching people gambling up?

Nope.. I havent.. Im pretty sure its allowed as long as the house makes no money and as long as its privately held.. i can do what i want within the four walls of my house cant i?
maybe ur right.. but thats what my understanding was..

gambling is not allowed no matter where you do or it happens. there are much more laws in system than we actually know.

lets respect the law.. and hope for the authorities to recognise this game as skill.. with so many poker enthusiasts already in this country its only a matter of time..

pranav wrote:but if you hold tournaments without any money involved then it is not gambling right?
so why cant ur tournaments (like the one on Sept 25th) be held in other cities as well..
It cannot be classified as gambling unless and until there is money involved.

Pranav, the interpretation by law can go either way cos the Indian Public gaming Act, 1867 is not very specific in many aspects. The Act actually talks about public gambling and keeping a gaming house. It has been amended a few times and experts and courts use this act even though no money is present on the location. If gaming paraphernilia is present the court at its discretion can decide that gambling happened.
With poker getting so much attention worldwide, we will have to have wait for the best arguments before anything can be done to change status of the game in India.
We must follow the law till changes are made to the existing laws.
And Goa is a nice place for a holiday.
Its more fun to play poker tournaments when you are holidaying and mind is off from the demands of workdays.

I think the way forward would be to get an opinion from a lawyer and get his views on how we could make this work.
the thing is, in india laws are not changed very regularly, so very rightly we must follow the law, but we also have to be the ones to make the change happen in the laws. as many members have suggested, this can be used as a forum to make moves to try and get poker legalised in india or get it under the same gambit as rummy.

pranav wrote:I think the way forward would be to get an opinion from a lawyer and get his views on how we could make this work.
the thing is, in india laws are not changed very regularly, so very rightly we must follow the law, but we also have to be the ones to make the change happen in the laws. as many members have suggested, this can be used as a forum to make moves to try and get poker legalised in india or get it under the same gambit as rummy.

Pranav, as usual you have a great point and i agree with you. Taking your cue, i have posted a new topic about laws and regulations.
As a matter of fact, the credit to that post and all threads should really be yours. In the final tally we will add it for you.