Pokerstars Gets Local Goans to Play Poker Online!

The history surrounding Goa's casino culture is an interesting one, though it's certainly an industry that's brought great wealth to the region.

The smallest state in India, Goa seems an unlikely place for a cultural capital. However, when it comes to casino culture, Goa is the only place to be. This tiny state is one of the very few states in India where casinos are legal and despite its small size, it's actually the largest of the competition.

Across the world, casinos have taken inspiration from Indian hospitality, so if you love nothing more than a trip to the casino, be sure to visit this hive of activity.

The Deltin Royale

The Deltin group has a handful of truly opulent casinos to their name, including the Deltin Royale. Sitting in the poker room surrounded by luxurious decore is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful ways to enjoy a game in India, especially for those who already love playing online poker games.

What people who are unfamiliar with Goa may be interested to find out, is that The Deltin Royale is actually afloat.

The Mandovi river flows right through the center of Goa, meaning that some of the space with the best footfall, is actually right by the river. Many casinos have taken advantage of this and have chosen to build right on the water, no, not beside it, actually on it.

The Deltin Royale is the largest and most expensive of these builds, a vessel with over 40,000 feet of playing space. It boasts 125 table games, as well as its own restaurant. If you're looking for a high-class experience in Goa, then the Deltin Royale is the place to be.

Casino Pride

Whilst the Deltin Royale packs quite a punch to the wallet, Casino Pride is a little more budget-friendly. This is the second-largest casino in Goa and caters to the casual tourist and local market. Whilst the cost to guests is lower here, that's not to say that the service isn't exemplary. The Casino Pride takes up some 30,000 square feet and offers everything you'd expect from a top-class casino.

Particularly of note should be the enormous Teen Patti tournaments, which draw in huge crowds. This traditional Indian game is played with three cards in a hand and is so popular that it even has a film named after it. If you feel like trying your hand at traditional table games, that aren't always offered at other casinos, then Casino Pride should be your first port of call.

The Big Daddy Casino

Yet another floating casino to add to the list. No surprise, given that of the ten casinos in Goa, six of them are vessels on the Mandovi. This came about partly because of location, but also because of legislation. Only moveable vessels are allowed to provide table games, the rest may only provide electronic machines. That is unless they are attached to a five star luxury resort.

The Big Daddy hails from Panama and opened in the capital, Panjim, just last year. It claims to be the most modern offshore gaming destination in Asia and depending on your taste, it might just live up to those claims. The Big Daddy offers slot machines galore, as well as a healthy selection of table games, thanks to its offshore status.
Casino Strike

If you're after an on-shore experience then perhaps the best of the bunch is Casino Strike. This casino is located at the Grand Hyatt in Bambolim and offers what most would deem a true 'Western' casino experience. Of course, being on-shore, this casino is bound to the electronic only machines rule. 

However, Casino Strike has been able to work with trained croupiers for them to act out some of the parts that casino patrons might miss the most. Although this sounds a little strange, the experience itself is very similar to what you might experience in one of the floating vessels.

Although casino culture in Goa has been a contentious issue, particularly over the last few years, it has brought a lot to the region. Now an incredible 1 in 10 of the people visiting India, are coming straight to Goa.

This influx of tourists has boosted their economy from a GDP of 4bn Rs in 1976 (the year of the legalization of casinos), to 150bn Rs in 2010. Whether these floating casinos are asked to move away from Goa or not, one thing is for sure, they've certainly brought riches to the area.