Sikkim's Casino Licences, Recorded

What this archive is

In the mid-to-late 1990s, Sikkim became one of the first states in independent India to permit land-based casino gaming within licensed hotel premises, well ahead of most other Indian states. This site treats that history as a matter of public record rather than promotion: it catalogues the venues, the statute that authorised them, and the state's wider tourism strategy, in the dry, table-first style of an archival ledger.

Every entry on this site is written for the reader who wants to understand the regulatory history of Gangtok's casino hotels — students of Indian tourism policy, travel researchers, journalists, and visitors curious about how a small Himalayan state came to host India's earliest legal casino floor. It is not written for, and does not link to, anyone looking to take part in gaming activity online or in person.

How the record is organised

The centrepiece of the site is The License Ledger, a filterable case file of Gangtok's casino-hotel operations, each entry marked with an opening year, a licence status, and a building type. Surrounding it are pages on the underlying statute, the venues themselves, the state's tourism-policy reasoning, common visitor questions, and a note on responsible play.

• The License Ledger — the searchable case file.
• The Act Behind the Ledger — the legal framework, explained.
• Casino Hotels of Gangtok — a plain-text list of venues.
• Why Sikkim Legalised Early — the tourism-policy backdrop.
• Questions About Sikkim's Casinos — frequently asked questions.
• Playing Responsibly — support resources.

A note on accuracy

Where a specific licence number, statutory date, or tax figure is not something we can confirm from a primary source, we mark it as unverified and recommend checking with the relevant state gaming authority before relying on it. We would rather leave a gap in the record than invent a fact to fill it.

This site is intended for readers of legal age in their jurisdiction. Age requirements for casino entry in Sikkim should be confirmed against the Sikkim Casino Games Act before any visit is planned. See Questions for more detail.