The Karnataka High Court is preparing to re-examine a 1977 ruling that treated Andar Bahar as a game of skill. A judge hearing a case linked to a 2020 gambling raid questioned the logic of the older decision and referred the issue to a larger bench.
Why “skill versus chance” matters
Indian gambling law often turns on whether skill predominates over chance. The Supreme Court has recognised protection for certain skill-dominant games, including rummy, while pure games of chance can fall within gambling prohibitions.
Why the old precedent is under scrutiny
The judge noted that the earlier Andar Bahar ruling did not appear to examine the mechanics of the game in enough depth. Because a single judge cannot simply discard a binding earlier single-judge decision, the matter has been sent to a larger bench.
What the larger bench may consider
The court will have to look at how cards are dealt, what decisions players actually make and whether those decisions materially change the outcome. Statistical evidence and a precise description of gameplay could become more important than labels used in past cases.
What happens next
The ruling could affect police action, gaming businesses and digital versions of traditional card games in Karnataka. It may also add to the broader national debate over how India should classify real-money games.
Bottom line
The legal question is narrower than whether Andar Bahar is popular: it is whether player decision-making matters enough to make skill the dominant factor.
Source: The Indian Express
