June 2025: A23 Rummy, one of India’s biggest rummy platforms, is maintaining 100% compliance with the Indian iGaming laws. This is a major milestone and comes in the wake of strict game security, fair play, and responsible gaming features offered by the platform.
Legality of Online Rummy as A Game of Skill
In India, all online games that involve an element of chance and are associated with monetary transactions fall under the Public Gambling Act, 1867. As such, operators are prohibited from conducting them. On the other hand, playing for money is legal if the games involve skill and strategy.
As per the judgement of State of Bombay v. RMD Chamarbaugwala, AIR 1957 SC 699, the Supreme Court has declared online rummy to be a game of skill, despite the fact that it has an element of chance. This implies that to win, players will need knowledge, training, and experience.
Furthermore, in the State of Andhra Pradesh v. K. Satyanarayana and Ors., the Supreme Court of India reiterated that Rummy is a game of skill, unlike other card games (three-card counterpart). The reason stated was that the fall of cards had to be memorised, and players needed considerable skill and strategy when drawing and discarding cards.
According to all court judgements, games of skill are exempt from any legal penalties. They fall under the purview of a business activity, thus, can be played for cash. The predominant factor that influences the game should be a player’s skill in arranging their 13-card hand into suitable melds.
Legality of Prizes and Competitions in Online Rummy
In D. Krishna Kumar & Anr. V. State of Andhra Pradesh, 2002, online rummy is recognised as a game of skill since all prize competitions ask for a substantial skill level. Therefore, they are counted as a business activity and offered legal protection under Article 19(1)(g) of the Constitution of India.
On a similar note, the Punjab and Haryana High Court in Varun Gumber v. Union Territory of Chandigarh and others upheld that iGaming involves significant skill, making it a business activity that undergoes due registration and tax payments, and should therefore be protected under Article 19(1)(g) of the Constitution.
Owing to the above, participating in tournaments and winning cash prizes on online rummy platforms is completely legal. This allows A23 Rummy to conduct regular games, freeroll tournaments, and rake-based tournaments.
Exempted States Where A23 Rummy Does Not Operate
Though the Supreme Court has recognised online rummy as a game of skill, respective states in India are still free to frame their own laws to regulate iGaming platforms.
Players from specific states like those of Assam, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Nagaland, and Sikkim are not allowed to participate in A23 Rummy. This is because laws governing online gaming in these states require additional certification and licensing for specified games of skill
To stay in compliance with all legal norms, A23 does not operate its platform in the above states.
A23 Rummy’s Outlook on Responsible Gaming and Game Security
When playing on A23 Rummy, all players are requested to get familiar with the game rules before they start playing. Players are also advised to set monetary limits, be mindful of their skills, take breaks, and play only for entertainment. Furthermore, users are only allowed to play on A23 rummy if they are 18 years old.
All registered users on A23 Rummy have to complete mandatory KYC checks, offering their Email, mobile number, IP address, and ID proof (PAN/Aadhaar/DL). While creating the account, players need to only verify their contact details. As the game progresses, they will have to verify their legal identity (re-KYC)
Beyond the security features enforced by A23, these increase the awareness of each player. Thus, players can make educated decisions, be mindful of their gaming habits, and play responsibly. This is also in line with Tamil Nadu’s directive regarding real money games.
About A23: The Leading Online Rummy Platform
A23 Rummy is one of India’s biggest online gaming portals and has 19+ years of experience in the industry. As a market leader, they believe all platforms that maintain compliance with iGaming laws and regulations should be whitelisted, i.e., given greater legal recognition. The Supreme Court judgement solidifying online rummy’s position as a game of skill has helped.
To meet all criteria that make rummy a game of skill, A23 uses RNGs, maintains fraud checks, and is certified as a No BOT Platform. Furthermore, to help players improve their skill set, A23 Rummy regularly organises both freeroll and rake-based games.