Gambling regulation in Maharashtra
Maharashtra runs on the prohibition model of the Bombay Prevention of Gambling Act, 1887. A Maharashtra Casinos (Control and Tax) Act was passed in 1976 but never brought into force, so no casinos operate. Licensed horse racing survives as a judicially recognised game of skill (Royal Western India Turf Club, Mumbai and Pune), and the state runs lotteries under the Lotteries (Regulation) Act, 1998. 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.
Land-based casinos in Maharashtra
Regional gaming preferences
India's largest state economy and its biggest betting conversation: cricket culture in Mumbai and Pune is enormous, and the city's racecourses give horse racing a visibility it has lost elsewhere.
Popular sports & traditional games
Cricket first (Mumbai Indians, a dense local maidan culture), kabaddi strong (Pro Kabaddi roots), football growing in Mumbai.
Payment infrastructure
The most mature digital-payments market in India: UPI-first consumers, with cards and net banking widespread in the metros.
Frequently asked questions
Are casinos legal in Maharashtra?
Is horse-race betting legal in Maharashtra?
Sources
- Bombay Prevention of Gambling Act, 1887 (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