Gaming is a popular pastime around the world, and India is not immune to its charms. That goes double for online game platforms, which have blossomed despite the lack of regulation in the country. That’s nothing new – whenever Indians think of this topic, a picture of Shakuni holding dice in his hand is among the first things that pops in their minds. Even though largely considered a vice, gambling’s roots in Hinduism run deep.
Opinions on the pastime in Hinduism are divided. The government has still not decided on online gaming yet, while offshore casinos offer their services to Indian players. It’s certainly a big market, yet one that’s considered evil in the Hindu religion.
Luck-Based Games and India
It’s not uncommon to find mentions of gambling with dice in the Hindu religion and even Vedas. The practice wasn’t always associated with money. In the Agni Purana chapter 91, a description of a gambling board was shown. Property, cows, or horses were put at stake, and some people even used their women for staking. This board was used to predict the future, so gambling isn’t strange in Hinduism.
Long before new online casinos arrived to the Indian market, Hindus played all kinds of gambling games during Diwali. In the book Riddles in Hinduism by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, the author wrote that gambling was developed since the early days of the Aryan civilization. There were even technical terms for the four Yugas or historical timelines that were directly inspired by gaming dice.
The luckiest dice is named Krita, while the unluckiest is named Kali. In between them were Treta and Dwapara. The ancient Aryans were adept at high-stakes gambling, where wives, children, and even kingdoms were used as stakes. For example, King Nala once staked his kingdom and lost it. Gambling was not a pastime for the rich among ancient Aryans. It was a vice of every man and woman, and the writers of the Dharma Sutras sought to impress the king by presenting stringent laws that were aimed at controlling it.
Diwali Celebrations
Gambling is one of the many popular activities during Diwali. The Hindu festival of lights symbolizes the spiritual victory of light over darkness and good over evil. In the past, there were written reports of high-stakes gambling and drunken celebrations during the festival. These incidents led the Sunni Muslim emperor Aurangzeb to ban the festival for a time.
The festival of lights has always had deep connection to gambling. Gods such as Shiva and his wife Parvati started it all when Parvati invoked Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and fortune before a game of dice. She helped Parvati win the game, and Shiva lost everything. She then declared that gambling during the Pratipad is favourable, and everyone who gambles will mint money during the year.
Mentions Across Ancient and Religious Scriptures
Many ancient Hindu scriptures and texts not only allow gambling, but legalize it. There are mentions of legalized gambling houses with superintendents, and levies tax on gambling too. All winners were required to set aside a portion of their wins for the king.
Some texts mention that gamblers needed permission from the king to gamble. There were strict rules set by authorities regarding gambling. Those who cheated were punished severely and sometimes banished from a state.
This is similar to modern Indian gambling laws, which let each state decide on its own.
What Are the Current Laws on the Matter in India?
The Indian gambling laws are based on the Public Gambling Act of 1867. Gambling is considered illegal in most regions across the country. However, some states permit it, with casinos operating in Goa, Sikkim, and Daman. These are land-based or river casinos where players can take part in many card and table games, including blackjack, roulette, and poker.
Online gambling is still not recognized by the country. The Gambling Act is outdated, so it couldn’t include such laws at the time. Still, offshore casinos operate heavily in India. A lot of money from the economy are washed away, and many have called for an official recognition of online gambling.
Per the current regulations, casinos can only be open in five-star hotel resorts or vessels under the permission of the government. Gambling has been a huge hit in the three states where it’s permitted. Due to that, there are rumors that Visakhapatnam is currently being discussed as the next casino destination.
The Information Technology Act 2000 regulates cyber activities in India. However, it has no mentions of online betting or gambling. Its interpretation is left to the Courts, which have so far refused to intervene. Online gambling is a punishable offense in the state of Maharashtra under the Bombay Wager Act. However, since there’s no federal law against it, online casinos located offshore can offer their services to Indian players.
What Does the Future Hold?
In 2022, the Indian government announced plans to create a new gambling bill. It is supposed to replace the outdated Public Gambling Act of 1867. However, there’s still no set date when it might go live. Until then, players can freely enjoy gambling activities. Online casinos these days offer superb flexibility and work on a wide range of devices. Many of them even accept Rupees, making playing casino games even easier.
Regardless of that, gambling in Hinduism is still a divisive matter. Some players believe that the gods don’t forbid it, as scriptures have shown them gambling too. The Dharma doesn’t explicitly forbid it too. This central concept in Hinduism encompasses ideas such as righteousness and refers to an individual’s ethical and moral duties. The Dharma emphasizes the importance of living a responsible and virtuous life, which might be compromised by the negative consequences of gambling.
Until things change by law, gambling will continue dividing players. If enjoyed in a responsible matter, it can be a fun pastime. But, if you fall prey to the dangers of gambling, it will have negative consequences. Most players follow the Dharma on the matter, and with ancient scriptures mentioning it too, it will continue to be popular, and not just during Diwali.
