Casinos in Goa

Goa is the one state in India where a proper casino industry exists, and it is the reason many travelers put a casino night on their itinerary. The floating casinos on the Mandovi River in Panaji are unlike anything else in the country: multi-deck vessels with gaming floors, buffets, live music and river views. Alongside them, quieter hotel casinos offer table games without the boat ride. This page covers what there is, where it is, what it costs and what to expect.

Goa's licensed casinos: what the law allows

Goa has government-licensed casinos, which is what sets it apart from almost every other Indian state⁵. The legal basis is the Goa, Daman and Diu Public Gambling Act, 1976, the only state enactment in India that allows casinos⁶. Under that act, the government may authorize games of electronic amusement and slot machines in five-star hotels, plus table games and gaming on board vessels offshore⁷.

In practice, that means two kinds of venue: casinos inside five-star hotels on land, and casinos on vessels anchored offshore. Both need prior government approval, and the offshore licenses are limited in number, which is why the industry is dominated by a handful of operators⁸.

One practical point worth knowing: the state orders all casinos to close every year on October 2, Gandhi Jayanti, as a mark of respect to Mahatma Gandhi⁹. If your trip falls on that date, plan the casino night for another day.

Offshore and onshore: where casinos operate

Goa has an estimated ten casinos: four land-based and six offshore or floating¹. The offshore licenses are concentrated in few hands. Delta Corp, India's only listed gaming and hospitality company, holds three of the six offshore gaming licenses and also operates a land-based casino in Goa⁸.

The onshore casinos sit inside five-star hotels. The government's license register lists them with their operators: the casino at the Grand Hyatt in Bambolim, the casino at the Zuri Varca White Sands Resort in Varca, the casino at the Neo Majestic in Porvorim, and Deltin Suites in Nerul¹⁰. Deltin Suites Casino, with over 60 gaming positions, is Deltin's first onshore casino and sits inside the five-star Deltin Suites hotel¹¹.

The floating casinos are the famous ones, and they are all on the Mandovi River beside Panaji, the state capital. That concentration means you can stay in or near Panaji and walk or take a short ride to the jetty.

Offshore casinos on the Mandovi River

The offshore casinos are stationary vessels anchored in the middle of the Mandovi. They do not sail or move; guests are taken out to them by feeder boat from the operator's jetty³. The ride takes a few minutes and is part of the experience, especially at night with the Panaji lights behind you.

The jetties are all close together on the Panaji riverfront. Majestic Pride boards from its own jetty on the Mandovi near the District and Sessions Court¹². Deltin Royale and Deltin Jaqk use Deltin's jetty, and Big Daddy has its own entry point with valet parking available¹³.

Between them, the Mandovi fleet offers everything from casual first-timer floors to high-stakes poker rooms, so it is worth picking the vessel that matches your evening rather than just turning up at the nearest jetty.

Deltin Royale: Goa's largest gaming floor

Deltin Royale is the flagship of the Deltin group and is billed as Asia's largest offshore casino, with over 970 gaming positions spread across more than 50,000 square feet¹⁴. It operates 24/7¹⁴.

The game list is the longest in Goa: Texas Hold'Em Poker, Roulette, Indian Flush (Teen Patti), Baccarat, Blackjack, Casino War, 7 up 7 down, 3 Card Poker, 5 Card Poker, Mini Flush, Andar Bahar, Money Wheel, Texas House Poker, Sic Bo and Dragon Tiger¹⁴. It also has the largest dedicated poker room in Goa, running games from Omaha to Texas Hold'Em for players of all levels¹⁵.

Entry packages start at ₹4,400, and each package includes a One-Time Playing Coupon (OTPC) with a play value of ₹2,000 or ₹1,000 depending on the package, handed over at check-in and usable once on selected games². Daytime gaming runs from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM with its own offers, including daily lucky draws with prizes worth 1 lakh in non-negotiable play coupons¹⁶.

The evening has a rhythm worth knowing. On weekdays the live counter runs 7:00 PM to 12:00 AM, the buffet 8:30 PM to 1:00 AM, and the bar 7:00 PM to 12:00 AM, with live entertainment from 9:00 PM onwards¹⁴. Drinks and light snacks are served at the gaming tables; direct bar orders are not permitted on the gaming floor¹⁴. Tableside massage services, a smoking room and a dedicated cashier's desk round out the floor¹⁵. Contact details if you want to check anything before you go: +91 98196 98196, info@deltin.com¹⁴.

Deltin Jaqk

Deltin Jaqk is Deltin's second offshore vessel, operating since 2008 with over 430 gaming positions¹⁶. It is open daily 24x7 for the casino, though its package hours are listed as 6:00 PM to 5:00 AM².

It has a dedicated card room for poker players¹⁵ and the same tableside services as its sister ship: tableside massages, a smoking room and a dedicated cashier's desk¹⁵. Dining is at the Vegas Restaurant and Sky Bar¹⁶.

Entry packages start at ₹2,400 and include an OTPC with a play value of ₹1,000, handed over at check-in and usable once on selected games². Children aged 12 and above are allowed in the Skybar, and there is a Children's Room open from 6:00 PM to 5:00 AM, admission first-come, first-served, with a female guardian required to accompany the child³.

Big Daddy Casino

Big Daddy is the loudest name on the river and claims to be the largest floating casino in Asia⁴. It is open 24x7, with three floors of gaming, over 1,100 gaming positions and more than 15 games⁴.

Each level has its own character. Level 1 is general gaming with all games, Level 2 has Teen Patti, a poker room and high-stakes gaming, and Level 3 is Daddy's Club, an exclusive member zone with private gaming and high stakes⁴. Entry packages start at ₹4,000 for the Signature Package, ₹5,000 for the Premium Package and ₹6,000 for the VIP Package, each including gaming offers, buffet dining, beverages and live entertainment⁴.

Entertainment is a big part of the draw. Big Daddy says it is the only offshore casino to provide live entertainment on all the gaming floors, with 75+ performances every night¹⁸. Shows typically begin at 8:30 PM and continue until 1:00 AM¹⁹. Unlimited gourmet food and classic beverages are served on every level along with a buffet setup¹³. VIP guests get faster entry and priority access, premium seating, dedicated hospitality support and exclusive gaming sections¹⁹.

Practicalities are well covered. There are ATMs at the entry point and on board, valet parking at the jetty, and smoking is permitted only in designated areas¹³. Photography is allowed except on the casino floors and in VIP gaming areas; the permitted spots include the Level 4 restaurant, the sun-deck bar and a designated area on Level 2¹³. There is a supervised Kids section for younger visitors²⁰. Book online through the official website: choose a package, select the number of guests, complete payment and receive confirmation by email or SMS²¹. Book in advance during winter, weekends, Christmas, New Year and peak travel dates²².

One thing to be clear on: Big Daddy does not operate online gaming platforms, and it warns that it is not liable for payments, losses or activity on unauthorized or fraudulent websites claiming to represent it²⁰.

Majestic Pride and Grand 7 Casino

Majestic Pride is a luxury casino vessel moored on the Mandovi, boarding from the Majestic Pride Jetty near the District and Sessions Court in Panaji¹². It offers a curated selection of Indian and international table games¹², and you can reach it on 1800 1200 444¹². The same group also runs Majestic Paradise, an in-house casino at the Neo Majestic Hotel in Porvorim overlooking the Mandovi²³.

Grand 7 Casino is an onshore option with a different feel: it is located at the O'Hotel on Candolim Beach, in north Goa rather than Panaji²⁴. It is open 24/7, equipped with popular casino table games and electronic slot machines, with live performances nightly, a restaurant and bar, and around-the-clock concierge service²⁴. If you are staying in the Candolim area and want a casino night without the trip into Panaji, this is the closest full option.

Entry packages and what they cost

Almost every casino in Goa works on an entry-package model rather than a plain entry fee. The package typically covers entry to the casino floor, access to the gaming areas, food and drinks, live entertainment, and gaming coupons or other perks where offered²⁵. Prices shift depending on the venue, and often change between weekdays, weekends and festival periods²⁵.

The headline starting prices:

Big Daddy's tiers run from the Signature Combo at ₹4,000 up through Premium at ₹5,000 to VIP at ₹6,000¹⁷. Beyond standard entry, venues offer premium access tiers, VIP experiences, group booking rates, corporate event packages and packages built for celebrations²⁵. Final pricing can depend on the package, the date, availability and special events²⁶.

Note that the entry package to each Deltin casino is different, and a new purchase is required to enter another Deltin property³. If you plan to hop between Deltin Royale and Deltin Jaqk on the same trip, budget for two packages.

Games you can play

Across the bigger venues in Goa, expect to find Roulette, Blackjack, Baccarat, Poker and Teen Patti²⁵. Big Daddy adds Andar Bahar and slot machines to that list⁵, and Grand 7 runs table games alongside electronic slot machines²⁴.

The Indian games are half the fun for first-timers. Teen Patti, also called Indian Flush, is a three-card game you will find on every floor, and Andar Bahar, a simple guessing game, is one of the easiest to learn. We cover the rules separately on our Andar Bahar and Teen Patti pages, and there is a wider overview of casino games in India if you want to prepare before you go.

At the tables you play with chips, not cash. You buy chips at a counter or the cashier's desk on board⁵. Most venues welcome newcomers, and staff and dealers usually guide you through the basics, so do not be shy about saying it is your first time²⁵.

Your first visit: dress, bags and the day itself

Dress is smart casual everywhere. At Deltin venues, men should wear formal or smart-casual attire; shorts, sleeveless T-shirts, flip-flops, track pants and chappals are not permitted, and women should aim for appropriate evening wear³. Big Daddy asks for formal or smart-casual dress²⁶.

Bags have rules too. At Deltin properties, sling bags, purses and small handbags are fine, but backpacks, luggage, carry-on bags, heavy baggage and laptop bags are not allowed; there is a chargeable locker room³. Big Daddy allows the same small items, with backpacks, laptop bags and larger bags not permitted on board; storage costs ₹500 per small cabin bag and ₹1,000 per large bag, though laptops, power banks and cameras are exempted and can be carried¹³.

A few things that make the evening smoother:

• Book ahead for winter, weekends, Christmas, New Year and festival dates²².
• Check the cancellation terms when you book; certain cancellations, including no-shows, are non-refundable²⁶.
• Bring your original photo ID; a copy is not enough¹³.
• Arrive by about 8:30 PM if you want dinner, the buffet and the live shows in one evening¹⁹.
• Remember the annual October 2 closure⁹.

If you are not a gambler, you can still go. Big Daddy is explicit that you can enjoy the food, drinks, live entertainment, music and Mandovi River views without playing²², and the same is true in practice at the buffet-and-show venues.

Who can enter: age, ID and residency rules

The core rule is simple: gaming floors and alcohol service are for guests aged 21 and above, in accordance with government rules at the Deltin properties³, and Big Daddy likewise restricts gaming-floor access to guests aged 21 and above with valid photo ID²⁶.

ID matters. Carry a valid, government-issued photo ID; it is checked for age and identity at entry²⁵. At Deltin casinos, an original and valid government-issued photo ID is required, a passport is a must for all international guests, and a PAN card is mandatory for tournament registration³. Big Daddy requires a valid government-issued original ID, accepts the m-Aadhar app if the original is unavailable, and asks international guests for an original passport or driver's license¹³.

Children are handled venue by venue. Deltin Royale does not admit children or anyone below 12 to the property¹⁴, while Deltin Jaqk has a Children's Room from 6:00 PM to 5:00 AM and allows children aged 12 and above in the Skybar³. Big Daddy has a supervised Kids section on board²⁰, and younger visitors may access designated restaurant, lobby or children's areas under the applicable rules²⁶.

For Goan residents, the position is straightforward: a ban on Goans entering casinos has been proposed in the past and may yet become law, but as things stand locals enter on the same terms as visitors¹. Foreign visitors face no separate restriction beyond the passport requirement noted above.