Case:- State of Karnataka vs DM Gaming Pvt. Ltd & Ors.
Citation:- Special Leave Petition (Criminal) Diary No. 43003/2025
Date:- 22.09.2025
Hon’ble Supreme Court Bench:- JUSTICE M.M. SUNDRESH & JUSTICE SATISH CHANDRA SHARMA
The Hon’ble Supreme Court recently upheld Hon’ble Karnataka High Court’s order quashing an FIR registered against a Bengaluru recreation club owned by M/s. DM Gaming Ltd where Poker is played over allegations of illegal gaming.
- The Hon’ble Supreme Court dismissed the Karnataka Government’s plea against a Hon’ble High Court order that quashed an FIR registered against a Bengaluru recreation club owned by M/s. DM Gaming Ltd, where Poker is played.
- The Hon’ble High Court had earlier held, based on its earlier judgment that Poker and Rummy are considered games of skill, not gambling. The FIR alleged that non-members were present in the club, tokens worth Rs. 3,000 were exchanged, Rs. 9,000 in cash was seized, and mobile transactions suggested several thousand rupees were involved.
- The Hon’ble High Court observed that the FIR only described what the police saw during their inspection and did not provide evidence that the club was conducting illegal gaming. The Hon’ble High Court also referred to its own earlier decision in All India Gaming Federation v. State of Karnataka and the Allahabad High Court’s decision in M/s. DM Gaming v. State of UP, both recognizing Poker and Rummy as games of skill.
- The Hon’ble Supreme Court while dismissing the State’s petition, left the broader question of law open for future consideration, meaning the issue of whether Poker is a game of skills or not.
