Chapter I PRELIMINARY

Short title, extent and commencement.—

1. (1) This Act may be called the Bihar Gambling (Prohibition) Act, 2026.
2. (2) It extends to the whole of the State of Bihar.
3. (3) It shall come into force on the date of its publication in the Official Gazette.

Definitions.—

1. (1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires:-
   • (a) “Act” means the Bihar Gambling (Prohibition) Act, 2026;
   • (b) “Betting or wagering” means the staking of money, virtual currency, digital value or anything of value, whether or not equivalent to or convertible into a recognized or legal currency, upon the outcome of any uncertain event;
   • (c) “Company” means a body corporate and includes a firm or other association of individuals, whether incorporated or not, duly constituted and registered under the Companies Act, 1956 or the Companies Act, 2013, as amended from time to time, or under any other law for the time being in force;
   • (d) “Gambling” includes—
     • (i) wagering or betting, whether conducted physically or through online, electronic, digital or virtual means, for the purpose of financial gain or reward;
     • (ii) any transaction by which a person, in any capacity whatsoever, wagers or bets, or employs, appoints or authorizes another person, in any capacity whatsoever, to wager or bet with any other person;
     • (iii) the collection, solicitation, receipt or distribution of bets, stakes, winnings or prizes, in money or otherwise, in respect of wagering or betting; and
     • (iv) any act or omission which is intended to aid, abet, facilitate or promote wagering or betting or the collection, solicitation, receipt or distribution thereof. Explanation: It is immaterial whether the wagering or betting is conducted directly or indirectly and whether the consideration is monetary or otherwise.
   • (e) “Instrument of gambling” includes—
     • (i) cards, dice, counters, gaming tables, boards, cloths or any article used or intended to be used, whether physically or in any virtual, electronic or intangible mode, as a subject or means of gambling;
     • (ii) any document, register, ledger, slip, token, electronic record or digital record used or intended to be used as a record, register or evidence of gambling;
     • (iii) the proceeds of gambling, including cash, online or electronic transfer of funds or transactions, winnings or prizes in money or otherwise, distributed or intended to be distributed in respect of gambling.
   • (f) “Common gambling house” means any public or commercial place or online platform—
     • (I) in which gambling takes place; or
     • (II) in which instruments of gambling are kept or used, for the profit or gain of the person owning, occupying, using, keeping or managing such place. Explanation: For the purposes of this clause, gambling includes wagering or betting—
     • (i) on the trade value of any article, or on the variation in such trade value, or on the digits or numbers used in stating such variation; or
     • (ii) on the market price of any stock or shares, or on the digits or numbers used in stating such price; or
     • (iii) on the occurrence or non-occurrence of rainfall or other natural events; or
     • (iv) on any digit, figure, sign, symbol or picture used in stating or declaring the opening, middle or closing digits, figures, signs, symbols or pictures in connection with worli, matka, satta or similar forms of gambling; or
     • (v) on any digit, figure, sign, symbol or picture used for wagering or betting in connection with any gaming or any other form of gambling.
   • (g) “Online gambling” means involvement in, participation in, organisation of, facilitation of, or abetment of gambling through computers, computer applications, computer networks, computer systems, mobile applications, internet platforms, communication devices, electronic applications, software or any virtual or digital platform by any method involving selection, generation or acceptance of any digits, figures, signs, symbols or pictures;
   • (h) “Game of chance” means a game in which the outcome is not predominantly determined by the knowledge, training, expertise or experience of the participant but is predominantly determined by chance or luck; Explanation: Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, all games specified in Schedule ‘A’ shall be deemed to be games of chance.
     • (i) “Prescribed” means prescribed by rules made under this Act;
   • (j) “Schedule” means a Schedule appended to this Act.
2. (2) The words and expressions computer, communication device, computer network, computer resources, computer system, cybercafé and electronic record used in this Act shall have the meanings respectively assigned to them in the Information Technology Act, 2000, as amended from time to time.
3. (3) Words and expressions used in this Act but not defined in this section and defined in any other law for the time being in force shall have the meanings respectively assigned to them in such law.