Is Poker Legal in Haryana? The 2026 Game-of-Skill Notification Explained

By Mayfair Poker Lounge  ·  18 October 2026  ·  6 min read

For years, poker in Haryana sat in a grey zone. That changed in September 2026, when the state government formally notified poker and rummy as games of skill. Here is what the notification says, the conditions clubs must meet, and what it means for players in Gurugram, Panchkula and the Tricity.

This article is general information, not legal advice. Laws and guidelines can change; always check the current official text.

The law: Haryana Prevention of Public Gambling Act, 2025

The Haryana Prevention of Public Gambling Act, 2025 replaced older gambling rules in the state. Like most Indian gambling laws, it targets games of chance played for money, and it allows the state to notify certain games as games of skill, which are treated differently.

What changed on 10 September 2026

On 10 September 2026, the Haryana Home Department, through Additional Chief Secretary Sudhir Rajpal, issued a notification under Section 2(1)(g) of the Act declaring Poker and Rummy to be games of skill for the purposes of the Act.

The idea that skill-based card games are different from gambling is not new in India. In State of Andhra Pradesh v. K. Satyanarayana (1967), the Supreme Court held that rummy is predominantly a game of skill. Haryana's notification applies that thinking to poker clubs in the state.

The conditions every club must meet

Five days later, the Home Department issued operating guidelines. As reported, a club must meet all of these conditions to benefit from the notification:

• Registration with the District Magistrate.
• Members only. No walk-in public gaming.
• Full KYC of every member using Aadhaar and PAN.
• 18+ only. Nobody under 18 may enter.
• CCTV, with 15 days of footage available to the police, and periodic police visits.
• GST and income tax compliance.
• Responsible-gaming limits on deposits and transactions.
• No rake. The club may not take a commission or any share of the stakes. Clubs may charge for membership, food and table use instead.

If a club breaks any condition, it loses the protection of the notification and the Act's penalties apply again.

What about online poker?

The Haryana notification covers physical clubs only. Real-money online gaming, including online poker and rummy, is prohibited across India under the central Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, in force since 1 May 2026. A state notification cannot override a central law.

What it means for players

For players in Gurugram, Panchkula, Chandigarh and Mohali, the notification means live poker can be played at clubs that are properly registered and follow every condition. Before you play anywhere, ask five simple questions:

1. Is the club registered with the District Magistrate?
2. Does it run proper KYC with Aadhaar and PAN?
3. Is entry strictly 18+ and members only?
4. Is there CCTV, and are the games dealt by trained dealers?
5. Does it charge a membership or table fee rather than taking a cut of the pots?

A club that answers yes to all five is taking both the law and its players seriously.

How Mayfair approaches it

Mayfair Poker Lounge is built as a private members' club for players aged 18 and over, with identity verification at registration, professional dealers at every table, and a calm, well-run room. We believe a well-regulated club is better for everyone: players, the community and the game itself. If you have a question about how we operate, our team is always happy to answer it.

Sources

• UNI India: Haryana notifies rummy and poker as games of skill
• TeamLease RegTech: Haryana Govt. notified Rummy and Poker as Games of Skill
• StartupTalky: Haryana clears rummy and poker rooms, with conditions
• Bar & Bench: Haryana's Prevention of Public Gambling Act, 2025