The world’s number one online poker site, PokerStars, is set to offer real-money play to the majority of Indian states in what looms as a major coup for Canadian-based owner and operator, The Stars Group.
In partnership with Sugal & Damani Group – a local company specializing in games of skill – The Stars Group will launch PokerStars.IN on 17 April 2018, offering online poker to players in Indian Rupees in a number of variants, including No-Limit Hold’em and Omaha. PokerStars.IN will also host localized versions of branded series and events, including the Sunday Million and World Championship of Online Poker (WCOOP).
Under the terms of the partnership, Sugal & Damani Group subsidiary Sachiko Gaming will operate PokerStars.IN while The Stars Group will license its brand and provide certain support services.
“The popularity of poker in India is growing and we are excited to build the market with the support of the global leader in online poker,” said Kamlesh Vijay, CEO of Sugal & Damani Group.
The Stars Group said that PokerStars.IN will offer industry-leading responsible gaming, player protection and fraud detection mechanisms to help ensure the integrity of games and the safety of players. Players residing in Indian states that do not permit participation in real money skill games will be prevented from playing.
“Pokerstars has helped to make poker one of the most popular skill-based games in the world and we look forward to Sachiko Gaming introducing the brand into the Indian market,” said The Stars Group CEO Rafi Ashkenazi.
Sugal & Damani Group is a leading business house primarily dealing with lottery and gaming businesses and is the largest state government lottery operator in India. It is also one of the major players operating rummy under the brand name khelplayrummy.com.




























