Casino Deltin Denzong
The Deltin group's Gangtok floor at the Denzong Regency — compact and hotel-integrated.
Advantages
- Operator pedigree
- Hotel integration
Disadvantages
- Limited gaming positions
- Weather-dependent season
Gambling regulation in Sikkim
Sikkim is the only state apart from Goa with a working land-based casino regime: the Sikkim Casinos (Control and Tax) Act, 2002 allows casinos attached to five-star hotels, and Gangtok hosts licensed casino floors. Sikkim was also an early online-gaming experimenter — the Sikkim Online Gaming (Regulation) Act, 2008 licensed games offered through intranet terminals within the state — but that regime cannot authorise what federal law now prohibits. Across every state and union territory, online money games are prohibited nationwide by the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025, in force since 1 May 2026 and enforced by the Online Gaming Authority of India. Sikkim additionally remains a major lottery hub under the Lotteries (Regulation) Act, 1998.
Online money games are prohibited across India under the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025, in force since 1 May 2026 — regardless of any historical state-level permissions. The notes above concern land-based and state-specific rules.
Land-based casinos in Sikkim
Expert-rated land-based venues researched for this state:
| Casino | City | Type | Status | Expert rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Casino Deltin Denzong | Gangtok | Land-based | Operating | 8.6 |
| Casino Mahjong (Mayfair Gangtok) | Gangtok | Land-based | Operating | 7.8 |
Casino Mahjong (Mayfair Gangtok)
Sikkim's best-known floor, attached to the Mayfair resort — small, table-led, tourist-oriented.
Advantages
- Resort setting
- Uncrowded tables
Disadvantages
- Small floor
- Seasonal accessibility
Regional gaming preferences
Gaming here is hotel-casino entertainment for tourists en route to north Sikkim, plus a long-standing lottery culture. Floors are small by Goa standards and table-led.
Popular sports & traditional games
Football is the dominant passion (the state produced Bhaichung Bhutia); archery and cricket follow. Traditional dice and card play accompany festivals.
Payment infrastructure
UPI coverage is strong in Gangtok and tourist corridors; the casino floors themselves are cash-and-chip environments under venue compliance rules.
Frequently asked questions
How many casinos operate in Sikkim?
Gangtok hosts a small number of licensed hotel casinos (see the venue list on this page); verify current operation with the venue before travelling.
Does Sikkim's 2008 online gaming law make online play legal?
No. The 2008 Act licensed intranet gaming inside the state, and in any case the federal 2025 Act prohibits online money games nationwide since 1 May 2026.
Sources
- Sikkim Casinos (Control and Tax) Act, 2002 (state legislation)
- Sikkim Online Gaming (Regulation) Act, 2008 (state legislation)
- Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025 — https://www.indiacode.nic.in/handle/123456789/22148
- PIB backgrounder on the 2026 Rules — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2256973