Traveling and playing at casinos in India: e-Pass explained

What was an e-Pass?

An e-Pass was an electronic travel permit issued by state and district authorities during the Covid-19 lockdowns of 2020 and 2021. It let a named person, and sometimes a named vehicle, move for an approved reason while general movement was restricted.

Typical reasons accepted were medical emergencies, work in essential services, returning home, a family death or wedding, and urgent travel for study. Each state ran its own system, so the forms, documents and approval times differed. Police could ask to see the pass at state borders and checkpoints.

Leisure trips, including visits to casinos or other entertainment venues, were generally not an accepted reason. Entertainment venues also faced closures and capacity limits during this period, which varied by state and changed often.

The system began to end in August 2020. In a letter dated 22 August 2020, the Union Home Secretary reminded states that the Unlock guidelines allowed no restriction on inter-state or intra-state movement of people and goods, and that no separate permission, approval or e-permit was required. Some states brought back passes during the 2021 wave, but those requirements also lapsed as restrictions were lifted.

Checklist before you travel to a casino

Instead of an e-Pass, a casino trip today depends on the law of the state you visit and the rules of the venue. Go through this list before you book:

1. Choose a state where casinos are legal. Goa and Sikkim have laws that license casinos. In Goa, Section 13A of the Goa, Daman and Diu Public Gambling Act, 1976 lets the state government authorise slot machines in five-star hotels and table games on offshore vessels. In Sikkim, casino games are licensed in hotels of five-star standard. We could not confirm a currently licensed casino in Daman, so we leave it out.
2. Carry original photo ID. Venues check age and identity at the door; a passport, Aadhaar, driving licence or voter ID is the usual choice. Ask the venue which documents it accepts.
3. Check the age rule. You must be an adult, and individual venues may set a higher minimum age.
4. Check rules for residents. According to the Law Commission of India, Sikkim barred its local population from playing in the state's casinos in July 2016. Rules on local residents can change, so confirm them with the venue.
5. Read the entry terms. Ask whether the venue charges an entry fee, what it includes and whether there is a dress code.
6. Plan your budget. Decide in advance how much you will spend and leave cards at the hotel if that helps.
7. Book transport and your stay early if you travel during holidays.

How did you get an e-Pass?

When passes were in use, people applied in one of three ways:

• State portals. Most states had an official online form, often run with the National Informatics Centre, where you chose your state, the reason for travel and the dates.
• Mobile apps. Some states offered their own app for applications and status checks.
• District offices. The district collectorate or police could issue passes for applicants who could not apply online.

Applicants usually needed photo ID, proof of address, the reason for travel with supporting papers, and vehicle details when travelling by car. After a one-time password check, the portal issued an application number for tracking the status.

The old version of this article recommended a private website for applying. Today none of this applies, and any site still offering "e-Pass" services should be treated as a possible scam. If a government travel permit is ever needed again, use only the official state portal, which ends in gov.in or nic.in.

Prefer to understand an online casino before any trip? Our Bons Casino India review covers the brand, its games and what Indian law says. 18+ only; read our responsible gaming advice. More articles on the blog.

Sources

• MHA letter to Chief Secretaries, D.O. No. 40-3/2020-DM-I(A), 22 August 2020 (copy on Manupatra) – no restriction on inter-State and intra-State movement of persons and goods; no separate permission, approval or e-permit required
• Law Commission of India, Report No. 276 – Goa (via AdvocateKhoj) – Section 13A of the Goa, Daman and Diu Public Gambling Act, 1976 lets the State Government authorise slot machines in five-star hotels and notified table games on offshore vessels
• Law Commission of India, Report No. 276 – Sikkim (via AdvocateKhoj) – Sikkim law licenses casino games in five-star hotels; July 2016 notification barred the local population from playing in the State's casinos
• Sikkim Casinos and Games (Regulation) (Amendment) Act, 2022 – Sikkim's casino law of 2002 remains in force and was amended in 2022

Data checked on 30 October 2026 by the editorial team.