Gambling regulation in Nagaland
Nagaland built India's first skill-game licensing regime: the Nagaland Prohibition of Gambling and Promotion and Regulation of Online Games of Skill Act, 2015 prohibited gambling while licensing operators of online skill games for play across India. Since 1 May 2026 the federal Act prohibits online money games nationwide, overriding the money-play value of such licences; the state licenses no casinos. 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 Nagaland
Regional gaming preferences
A church-influenced, gambling-averse society that nonetheless produced India's most interesting regulatory experiment in skill gaming.
Popular sports & traditional games
Football and wrestling are strong; archery and traditional games mark the Hornbill Festival season.
Payment infrastructure
Digital payments are growing from a low base; cash remains important outside Kohima and Dimapur.
Sources
- Nagaland Prohibition of Gambling and Promotion and Regulation of Online Games of Skill Act, 2015
- 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