Online Gaming Ban West Bengal: Full Legal Status 2026 Guide

The online gaming ban West Bengal players experience today came from PROGA's national prohibition in May 2026, not from any prior state-level ban. In fact, West Bengal was one of India's most gaming-permissive major states before PROGA: the 2021 West Bengal Gambling and Prize Competition (Amendment) Act explicitly recognised poker as a skill game in state legislation and created India's first explicit statutory licensing framework for poker clubs. PROGA overrode this framework, imposing the same national prohibition that applies across all Indian states. This guide covers West Bengal's unique gaming history and current status.

West Bengal's Gaming Law History

West Bengal's foundational gambling law is the West Bengal Gambling and Prize Competition Act 1957, which prohibits operating common gaming houses but does not address online gaming. The Calcutta High Court provided the state's first significant gaming ruling in 2015: poker is a game of skill under West Bengal law and is outside the gambling prohibition. This ruling was more explicit than the Supreme Court's general skill-game doctrine and specifically addressed poker (which was not covered by the 1968 Supreme Court rummy ruling).

Building on the 2015 ruling, the West Bengal state government passed the West Bengal Gambling and Prize Competition (Amendment) Act 2021. This amendment explicitly classified poker as a skill game in state statute, created a licensing regime for poker clubs, and set out conditions for licensed physical poker operations in West Bengal. This made West Bengal one of only two places in India (alongside Goa's casino framework) with a statutory licensing basis for legal poker operations. The regulatory history is covered in Wikipedia's Gambling in India article.

How PROGA Affected West Bengal in 2026

PROGA, enacted as a central law under Article 249 powers (Parliament legislating on a State List subject in the national interest), explicitly overrides conflicting state gambling laws. The West Bengal 2021 Amendment's recognition of poker as a skill game and its licensing framework for poker clubs were effectively nullified by PROGA's national prohibition on all real-money gaming without a Central Gaming Licence. Online poker platforms that had relied on the WB 2021 amendment for West Bengal operations were required to shut down alongside all other domestic operators on May 1, 2026.

What West Bengal Players Can Access in 2026

Offshore gaming platforms are accessible from Kolkata, Howrah, Durgapur, Siliguri, Asansol, and across West Bengal. Players access offshore cricket betting (Kolkata Knight Riders matches, IPL, Test cricket), online casino games (Teen Patti, Andar Bahar, slots, roulette), and online poker (Texas Hold'em, Omaha) through these platforms. UPI deposits via PhonePe and Google Pay are available on most offshore platforms accessible from West Bengal.

Royal Calcutta Turf Club — Legal Betting in Kolkata

The Royal Calcutta Turf Club (RCTC) is one of India's oldest and most prestigious horse racing venues, founded in 1847. Licensed horse race betting at the RCTC physical venue is entirely legal under India's gambling law framework, which has historically exempted licensed horse racing from gambling prohibitions due to colonial-era legislation recognising horse racing as a skill-based wagering activity. RCTC operations are completely unaffected by PROGA. Kolkata race-goers can bet legally at RCTC on race days, independent of the offshore online gaming options available from home.

Tax on Gaming Winnings from West Bengal

Gaming winnings from offshore platforms are taxable for West Bengal players under the same rules as all other Indian states: 30% flat rate on net gaming winnings above ₹10,000 per transaction under Section 194BA and 115BBJ of the Income Tax Act. Self-declare all offshore gaming income in Schedule OS of your annual ITR filing. For the complete guide, see our TDS on online gaming winnings guide and ITR for gaming income guide.