Traditionally, rummy has always been the most popular card game in Europe and elsewhere, before poker came to fore as a huge favorite in the 20th century. Yet after rummy finally came out of its traditional mold by going online, its popularity as an online and mobile game soared and reached higher levels not only in Europe but also in Asia, particularly in India.
Popular Rummy Games in Europe and in India
There are three ways to play rummy online, the fastest being the Points Rummy game. Here, each round determines a winner through point comparisons of the deadwoods or unmatched cards held at the end of a round. The player with zero or lowest points becomes the winner,
The other two methods are Deals Rummy and Pool Rummy, which although basically played as Points Rummy games, are more complex. They differ from Points Rummy games in terms of the number of deals or rounds played, before a player emerges as game winner who can rightfully claim the equivalent cash rewards.
Of the three types, Deals Rummy or Contract Rummy is the most popular in Europe, while all three variants are widely played in online Indian Rummy platforms.
Offering Rummy Games Online in Europe vs. Online Rummy Business in India
Offering rummy games online in most European countries is not illegal for as long as the gaming operations run under the licensing and supervision of appropriate gaming regulators recognized by jurisdictions. In Europe, online rummy can be merged with other online gambling offerings like video slots and casino table games such as baccarat, blackjack, poker and roulette.
In India, offering online rummy games as a business must make use of a gaming platform that offers only purely rummy variants. Indian gambling laws prohibit placing of wagers on games of chance but not on games of skills. This denotes that it is illegal for operators to include online casino games and other games of chance in their rummy gaming facilities and/or online platforms.
In 2015, the Supreme Court of India, upheld rummy as a game of skills, serving as a confirmation that rummy gaming sessions are not illegal even if cash rewards are at stake. The Supreme Court ruling was handed down in response to appeals arising from controversial illegal gambling charges filed against land-based gaming facilities that offer rummy playing tables. Operators of online rummy platforms joined the petition for the appeal. as the controversy could negatively impact their business.
It is important however, for rummy websites not to accept players coming from Indian states that expressly prohibit online gambling including online rummy games, regardless of its legal distinction as a game of skill.
Indian Rummy websites like, specifically state in the Terms and Conditions agreed to by customers that players from prohibiting states are not qualified to participate in contests and rummy tables as the players themselves could be jailed for doing so.
Still, similar to other regulated online gaming businesses in Europe and other countries like the U.S., the UK, Canada and those in the Caribbean regions, Indian rummy websites must abide with the international Anti Money Laundering and Terrorism law. The law requires all online gaming or gambling sites to adhere to the Know-Your-Client (KYC) policy to ensure that their gambling sites will not be used for related illegal and criminal activities.
