Poker and Rummy Why They are Skill Based Games According to the Allahabad Court

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Allahabad Court in a recent hearing has declared Poker and Rummy to be skill-based games. Yeah, we know there is nothing new in it. As per Indian Law, these two games do not fall under the gambling category and everybody in India can play them. But if it’s like that, why did a case come to the Allahabad court? 

Because different states in India have different gambling laws. In some states, it is legal to participate in iGaming whereas, in some states, you can go to jail for that. So, what happened is a company called S/M DM Gaming Pvt. Ltd. was denied permission to run an online gaming unit that would only deal with skill-based games in Agra. So, it filed a case that reached Allahabad Court and the court was in favor. Why? Because the Indian law doesn’t prohibit skill-based gaming practices. 

Now, the question arises why only Poker and Rummy? They are played at casinos too just like other games like Teen Patti, Baccarat, Andar Bahar, etc. Then, why are these two exempted from the gambling category and marked as skill-based? To know that, you first need to understand what skill-based games are. So, that being said, let’s begin our blog and see how valid the judgment was. 

What Are Skill-Based Games?

Skill-based games are those where players require a set of skills to win the game rather than just depending on luck which is what happens in casino gaming most of the time. But when we talk about card games, especially Poker or Rummy, the outcome largely depends on how players are reading each other, how well they are calculating numbers, and how well they strategize. Without these abilities, it is not possible to win these games and that’s why the Indian government has put them into the skill-based category. 

Let’s understand this better through an example, have you ever played a spin-a-wheel game? What do you do there, you just spin it, right? You cannot control the outcome. Now, think about games like Chess, do you think it can be won by luck? No, right? 

This is what happens in Poker and Rummy as well. If you are not aware of the strategies, rules, unique moves, etc., winning is not possible. So, as players are putting in skills to win, they are considered as games of skill and not luck. 

So, why are they playing at casinos? Because casinos are not only about luck. The majority of the card games played at casinos are played with skills, but some underlying factors like game manipulation make them risky and this is the reason casinos are banned in India.

Poker and Rummy as Skill-Based Games

In both games, you need to play very strategically. You need to calculate everything, how much the score is, how much score your opponent has, which move will not benefit them, how to create a card sequence that is better than your opponent's, reading their faces, predicting their cards, and more. Phew! It’s a whole lot of work brother. You gotta work to win here, waiting for your luck is not a thing. 

Moreover, Poker or Rummy are not perceived as a part of gambling only. USA-based brands like Poker Power, are using such games to develop professional skills in women. Can you imagine? A whole new perspective. But yeah, they are not playing with money there but just plastic coins and this is also a very important aspect to look at. The moment money enters, it becomes a controversial topic. 

The reason behind Indian states rejecting these games is because they lead to gambling addiction. People have been selling their properties for these games, some are committing suicide because they borrowed huge amounts of money and lost in gambling. So, does it mean that the Allahabad Court made a wrong decision? No, here’s why: 

The Court’s Ruling and Its Basis

The Allahabad court made a decision following the existing gambling law of India. Remember, a court cannot change anything or pass a rule. If the law says that skill-based games are no offense, no court can stop that. Yes, they are in control to stop gambling activities but if everything fits the law, the court has to allow it. 

The counsel of S/M DM Gaming Pvt. Ltd. put strong arguments for some previous cases that took place in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu to prove their point. They also stated that the license was denied based on possibilities, not on real data and this is where they won. 

Furthermore, the court announced that though Poker and Rummy are legal, the authorities must check for gambling activities taking place and take action. Did you understand the statement? The court is putting the focus on verifying these platforms and making sure that no act of gambling is taking place. It’s not stopping the practice of skill-based games. 

Conclusion

iGaming in India is not a new thing anymore. The rise of platforms like Poker Baazi, Rummy Circle, etc which are nothing but Rummy business and Poker business modules has made these games more accessible and enjoyable to people. 

But what about those who got addicted and lost everything? This is something that India is still fighting with. On one side, the country is proposing direct FDI for RMG businesses, and on the other hand, some states are becoming more and more intolerant towards these games. 

There is only one solution to this, and that is to promote responsible gaming. It does not matter whether you are playing Poker, Rummy, or any other game, if you are playing for the sake of entertainment, it’s fine. If you are playing to earn money only, you gotta be careful. Any source of entertainment can become an addiction if it’s not used responsibly and this is what India needs to focus on now.