Welcome to this WPT.com guide to India online poker! This article aims to explain the legal status of online poker in India, as well as the best online poker sites for Indian poker players.
Your legal options for playing poker online in India vary depending on where you’re playing from within the country.
The best place to play poker online in India is WPT Global, which is available across the country. This article outlines India poker laws and the India poker economy, and takes a thorough look at WPT Global.
Best Online Poker Site In India
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Is Online Poker Legal In India?
Some of the world’s top international poker sites are available in all jurisdictions in India. That list includes WPT Global, the world’s top platform for online poker games.
Only a couple of Indian states have explicit laws and regulations in place for online poker. Those two states, Goa and Sikkim, are known as the two most gambling-friendly jurisdictions in India.
Online poker operates in somewhat of a gray area throughout the rest of India. While most Indian states don’t explicitly outline the legal status of online poker, poker players in India can safely play at sites like WPT Global.
If you’re in Sikkim, you have access to a lineup of Sikkim-licensed poker sites, as well as sites like WPT Global.
Best India Online Poker Sites
WPT Global is the top online poker site available in India. When you play at WPT Global, you compete against a player pool from more than 100 countries around the world.
In terms of game selection, player traffic, banking options, and action-packed games, WPT Global presents an online poker experience unrivaled by any other poker site.
Top Online Poker Site In India
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WPT Global
WPT Global is a legal real-money poker site owned and operated by the World Poker Tour. WPT is one of the longest-standing and most reputable brands in the poker industry.
WPT Global is one of the world’s top legal online poker rooms. The platform offers a poker game selection (for both cash games and poker tournaments) that competes with anything else available in the India poker market.
Despite launching only two years ago, WPT Global ranks as one of the world’s top three online poker sites in terms of player traffic. That means you can play poker games 24/7 at WPT Global, and find plenty of games running at all times.
Indian players can sign up for a WPT Global account and compete against a massive player pool from more than 100 countries.
WPT Global Cash Games
WPT Global’s cash games run around the clock, with some of the highest player traffic at any site in the online poker world.
The cash game lineup includes a range of stakes that should appeal to players of all experience levels and bankroll sizes.
The WPT cash games start at the micro stakes ($0.01/$0.02), running through mid-stakes games like $5/$10, and go all the way up to the highest of stakes at $100/$200/$400.
You can play the cash games at WPT Global using two currencies – USD and Chinese Yuan (CNY).
Cash game poker variants include No-Limit Hold’em, Pot-Limit Omaha, and Short Deck/6+ Hold’em. You’ll find standard ring games, Bomb Pot tables (with bomb pots occurring five times per hour), mandatory straddle tables, and Pace (fast-fold poker) tables.
WPT Global promises the “world’s largest recreational pool of poker cash game players,” which means Indian poker enthusiasts can always find fun, action-packed cash games. WPT Global allows no more than two professional poker players at a cash game table at a time.
This commitment to action and fun games creates an online poker environment unlike anything else in the industry at WPT Global.
WPT Global Tournaments
Poker tournaments at WPT Global run 24/7. Tournament prize pools at WPT Global can go into seven-figure territory for the biggest tournaments on the site.
A new tournament begins every ten minutes on the daily tournament schedule. The buy-ins go from $2 to $220 for daily tournaments.
Tournament formats include No-Limit Hold’em and Pot-Limit Omaha.
As per World Poker Tour tradition, WPT Global frequently offers tournaments and festivals with some of the biggest guaranteed prize pools in the world.
The massive prize pools for WPT Global’s tournaments aren’t limited to big buy-in events. The recent $1-for-$1 Million tournament offered a $1,000,000 prize pool for just a $1 buy-in.
Sunday is the biggest day of the week for online poker tournament action at WPT Global. The Sunday Majors lineup includes:
- $11 Mini Slam ($8,888 Guaranteed)
- $110 Sunday Slam ($50,000 Guaranteed)
- $330 Sunday Slam ($20,000 Guaranteed)
Win all three majors in a 22-day period, and you win a $100,000 Triple Crown Jackpot.
Tournament results also apply to the $14K Weekly Tournament Leaderboard. Finish high on the leaderboard and you could win a $1,500 WPT Prime Passport.
WPT Global often presents tournament festivals with huge guarantees.
The 2024 WPT Global Summer Festival, for instance, awarded more than $8 million. The tournament schedule offered buy-ins ranging from $5.50 to $3,500.
The $3,500 WPT Championship played as the Main Event of the festival. The winner of that tournament earned the honor of having their name etched on the Mike Sexton WPT Champions Cup.
WPT Global also frequently hosts satellites to live World Poker Tour events; read on for more on these qualifiers.
WPT Global Sign-Up Link
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WPT Global Satellites
WPT Global is the only online poker site that runs satellite qualifiers for live events on the World Poker Tour. You can win your way into WPT Prime events, WPT Main Tour events, and more.
The satellite tournaments at WPT Global offer the chance to win entry into prestigious World Poker Tour live events for just a small buy-in.
For example, WPT Prime Passport satellites run throughout the year. These $110 buy-in satellite tournaments award $1,500 packages that include buy-in plus travel stipend for any WPT Prime event on the calendar.
The smallest buy-in satellites start at just $5, and you can win a ticket to the $110 satellite in those $5 buy-in events. Win a $110 ticket and you’re one step away from a WPT Prime Passport!
WPT World Championship Satellites
The record-breaking 2023 WPT World Championship emanated from Wynn Las Vegas and awarded a $40-million guaranteed prize pool.
The World Championship returns to Wynn Las Vegas this December. WPT Global awards seats to the World Championship via satellite qualifiers throughout the year.
WPT World Championship qualifiers start with buy-ins as low as $5.
Each Sunday in 2023, WPT Global ran a $1,060 buy-in satellite that guaranteed at least eight WPT World Championship Passports, as well as a $220 buy-in event that guaranteed at least one Passport.
The $12,400 Passport included a buy-in for the WPT World Championship, as well as a cash travel stipend. The next WPT World Championship takes place at the Wynn once again in December 2024.
Look for chances to satellite your way into the premier World Poker Tour event of the year on WPT Global.
What Games Are Available At WPT Global?
The poker games available at WPT Global include:
- No-Limit Hold’em (tournaments, cash games)
- Pot-Limit Omaha (tournaments, cash games)
- Short Deck/6+ Hold’em (cash games only)
No-Limit Hold’em and Pot-Limit Omaha tournaments run daily at WPT Global. Short Deck/6+ Hold’em only runs in cash game format.
Is There A WPT Global India Sign-Up Bonus?
New players from India can sign up for a WPT Global account and unlock a welcome bonus package that includes a 100% deposit match up to $1,500.
Depending on the amount of your first deposit, you can also qualify for WPT Passport Satellite tickets, Global Spins tickets, and a $110 ticket to the $50,000 Guaranteed Sunday Slam tournament.
You can check out the full terms and conditions of the welcome bonus package by clicking here.
You can download WPT Global for your desktop or laptop computer, or download the WPT Global app for Android or Apple iOS devices.
No promo code is required to unlock the bonus offer.
Register for a new account, make your first deposit, and you’re automatically qualified for the deposit match and any applicable tournament tickets.
You can start the registration process by clicking on the sign-up link below.
WPT Global Sign-Up Link
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How Do I Sign Up For A WPT Global Account?
You can sign up for a WPT Global account by going through the following steps:
- Click the sign-up link above
- If you’re on a desktop device, the sign-up link will redirect you to the WPT Global download page. Click the “Download” tab in the horizontal menu at the top left of the main lobby.
- If you’re on a mobile device, the sign-up link will redirect you to either the App Store (for Apple iOS devices) or the Google Play Store (for Android devices)
- Once you’ve downloaded either the mobile app or the desktop client, you’ll be prompted to complete the registration process. Once you’ve provided the necessary details, you’ll receive an email verification.
- Verify your email, and you’re on your way! Keep in mind that you get a 100% match on your first deposit, up to a max of $1,500.
Promotions At WPT Global
WPT Global offers one of the most extensive lineups of player promotions you’ll find anywhere.
Some of the current WPT Global promotions include:
- Up to $10,000 Invite-a-Friend referral bonus (see details here)
- $25,000 cash game leaderboard
- $14,000 weekly tournament leaderboard
- Tournament guarantee Bump’em Up
- Spins Splashes and Spins Giveaways
The list above shows just a few of the many promos available; check out the WPT Global Promotions page for the full rundown.
Banking Options At WPT Global
WPT Global includes several different deposit and withdrawal options for India players. Most of these banking methods allow you to fund your account instantly.
You’ll find numerous ways to deposit, using traditional banking, cryptocurrency, or E-Wallets.
Traditional Banking Deposit Methods
- Visa
- MasterCard
- JCB
- Instant Bank Transfer
- Prepaid Vouchers
When you use one of the traditional banking methods on the list above, your deposit will generally appear in your WPT Global balance instantly. Occasionally, however, bank transactions can take longer to clear.
Cryptocurrency Deposit Methods
- Bitcoin
- Ethereum
- Litecoin
- Many other cryptocurrencies
You’ll need a cryptocurrency wallet with a positive balance to use crypto for WPT Global deposits. To deposit with cryptocurrency, follow these steps:
- Navigate to the WPT Global Cashier page
- Click “Deposit”
- Choose “Cryptoprocessing” from the options available.
- Select the cryptocurrency you want to deposit with
- Enter the desired deposit amount in USD
- Send the cryptocurrency deposit to the unique address provided
E-Wallet Deposit Methods
- Neteller
- Skrill
- Muchbetter
- Luxonpay
You must have an active account with one of the above E-Wallet services to use it as a deposit method.
Withdrawal Methods
Most deposit methods at WPT Global can also be used for withdrawals. When requesting a withdrawal from your account, keep the following factors in mind:
- Credit/debit cards can’t be used for withdrawals
- In most cases, you must choose a withdrawal method that you’ve previously used for a deposit
- Withdrawals generally take 1-5 working days to process
- You must play through a deposit at least once before it can be withdrawn
To make a withdrawal request, navigate to the Cashier page, click “Withdraw” and choose the withdrawal method you want to use.
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Are Offshore Poker Sites Safe?
Indian players enjoy access to some of the world’s top legal poker sites, including WPT Global.
A number of offshore/illegal poker sites also offer their services in India. When you play online poker, your best bet is to stick with reputable platforms like WPT Global.
Consider the following reasons to avoid playing at offshore poker sites:
Illegal Financial Transactions
If you make a deposit at WPT Global, that transaction appears on your bank statement as exactly what it is – a deposit to the WPT Global online poker site.
If you make a deposit at an offshore/illegal poker site, that transaction will likely show up on your bank statement as a purchase from an online store you’ve never heard of, often in a foreign country. If a poker site is disguising the true nature of your deposit, that can’t be a good sign.
When you request a withdrawal from an offshore poker site, it can take weeks (or even longer) for your funds to end up in your bank account. In some worst-case scenarios, your withdrawal might never actually show up in your bank account.
Cheating And Other Unethical Activities
WPT Global operates with the highest levels of security protocols you’ll find at an online poker site. The World Poker Tour has a vested interest in presenting fair games, prompt payouts, and a secure platform for its players.
Offshore poker sites, which operate outside Indian laws, often have major issues with cheating, bots, multi-accounting, ghosting, and other unethical and unfair activities.
If you have access to a site like WPT Global, you should avoid offshore/illegal poker sites altogether.
India Online Poker Sites FAQ
Can I play online poker in India?
Yes. Many of the world’s top online poker sites operate in India. If you’re playing poker in Sikkim, you’ll have access to several additional poker sites that are licensed and regulated in Sikkim.
WPT Global is the top choice for Indian poker players looking for a world-class real-money online poker site.
Is WPT Global allowed in India?
Yes. You can play at WPT Global from anywhere in India. The player traffic levels, games available, tournament prize pools, and banking options at WPT Global are unparalleled among Indian poker sites.
Is it safe to play online poker in India?
Yes. While most Indian states don’t explicitly legalize online poker, you can safely play at online poker sites like WPT Global throughout the nation.
India hosts a thriving poker market, and Indian poker players can expect that market to continue growing.
Are offshore poker sites legal?
No. If you play online poker in India, it’s best to stick with poker sites that are licensed and regulated in other countries.
If you’re playing from within the state of Sikkim, you have access to a group of Sikkim-regulated poker sites, as well as internationally renowned legal poker platforms like WPT Global.
What is the best legal online poker site available in India?
WPT Global is the world’s top online poker site, and is available across all of India.
India poker players can find a top-notch selection of cash games and tournaments at WPT Global. Player traffic at WPT Global is among the top three online poker sites in the world.
Perhaps most importantly, WPT Global guarantees fun, action-packed games, limiting cash tables to no more than two poker pros per table.
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Ensure your jurisdiction allows play on WPT Global. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED.