Introduction: A Journey of Discovery
The name Lena Evans is synonymous with resilience, strategy, and community in the world of poker. As a two-time World Series of Poker (WSOP) Circuit champion, she has repeatedly proven her skill at the tables. Beyond her accomplishments as a player, Lena Evans is also a philanthropist and a global community builder. She founded the “Poker League of Nations,” dedicated to empowering women through poker, and she serves as the CEO of Helix Poker and Suited Poker Gear.
Recently, Lena Evans embarked on a transformative three-week journey to India. Her primary goal was not merely to play cards, but to conduct in-depth research for her upcoming book, The Mindful Competitor. She aimed to explore the spiritual heart of India, seeking insights into awareness and clarity. However, as a player whose mind is tuned to strategy, her attention was naturally drawn to the state of live poker in India.
Her journey began in India’s serene spiritual centers and transitioned to the bustling, uncertain environment of poker tables in Goa. Along the way, she visited Delhi and Mumbai, eventually arriving in the coastal state where live poker still thrives. There, she faced a pressing question: in a country where the digital gaming landscape has been completely erased, what does the future hold for this game?
Spiritual Backdrop and the Poker Mindset
Lena Evans began her journey seeking a spiritual foundation. She spent time meditating beneath the historic Bodhi Tree at the Mahabodhi Temple, a site revered for its connection to the Buddha’s enlightenment. She visited ancient locations shaped by centuries of devotion and discipline, observing how spiritual practice and daily life in India are deeply intertwined.
For Lena Evans, these were not mere tourist visits but living lessons in compassion, resilience, and “interbeing”—concepts she plans to explore in The Mindful Competitor. Interestingly, she found that these lessons carried over from the temples to the casinos. The clarity and emotional control required in meditation were remarkably similar to the skills needed at a high-stakes poker table.
However, the tranquility of her spiritual journey stood in stark contrast to the turbulence she discovered in the Indian gaming industry. While India’s culture offered timeless wisdom, the modern regulatory environment delivered a sudden shock to the poker community.
The 2025 Online Gaming Ban: A System Shock
To understand the current state of live poker in India, one must first consider the seismic shift that occurred in August 2025. Lena Evans arrived shortly after the Indian Parliament enacted the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, which imposed a sweeping ban on all real-money online games.
Overnight, the digital gaming landscape was completely transformed. Popular platforms for poker, rummy, and fantasy sports were shut down. Lena Evans witnessed the immediate and devastating consequences. This was not a minor regulatory hurdle—it was a full-scale halt of a thriving industry.
According to data Lena Evans reviewed, roughly 140 million players suddenly lost access to legal online play. This massive player base, cultivated over more than a decade, suddenly had nowhere to go digitally. The economic impact was equally staggering: the online gaming sector, which generated an estimated ₹20,000 crore annually in GST revenue for the government, came to a near standstill.
But the damage extended beyond tax revenue. Tens of thousands of jobs vanished. Professionals in technology, customer support, media, and operations were suddenly unemployed. Domestic platform traffic dropped by 90% to 98% within weeks. Player balances were frozen as operators shut down or exited the market entirely.
During her time in Delhi, Lena Evans spent a day with Khurshid Ahmad, co-founder of PokerProNews.com and a longtime friend, to gain local insight. Khurshid explained that the ban did more than interrupt daily gameplay—it fractured an entire ecosystem. This ecosystem had taken over ten years to build, encompassing players, operators, and content creators. Now, everyone was left in regulatory limbo, waiting for answers that had yet to arrive.
The Reality of Live Poker in India
After observing the devastating impact on the online sector, Lena Evans traveled to Goa to see what remained of live poker. Goa is one of the few jurisdictions in India where cash poker is still legal. She visited the well-known floating casino, Deltin Royale, to experience the game firsthand.
At Deltin Royale, the largest casino ship in Goa, Lena Evans witnessed a scene of resilience mixed with a sense of loss. Under the hum of ceiling fans and the scent of the river air, chips clicked softly at the cash tables, and players were fully engaged. The atmosphere was real and palpable, a clear reminder that poker is, at its core, a social interaction.
However, the limitations were obvious. Lena Evans observed that while cash games ran around the clock, the broader structure of the sport was gone. There were no ongoing tournaments, no satellites feeding into larger events, and no festival buzz or promotional banners to attract the crowd.
The community of regular players remained strong, determined not to let the game disappear. Professional dealers ran the tables, and international tourists mingled with locals. Yet Lena Evans noticed uneven foot traffic. The growth of live poker in India was clearly constrained—not because people didn’t want to play, but because the infrastructure supporting them had vanished.
Khurshid Ahmad was candid when discussing the situation with Lena Evans: live poker can survive in these localized pockets, but it cannot replace the reach or structure of regulated online play. A model that relies solely on live venues limits accessibility. Without an online channel to funnel players into live events, long-term growth stalls, leaving the ecosystem incomplete.
Two Mind Sports: Chess vs. Poker
During her time in Goa, Lena Evans witnessed a thought-provoking contrast. She attended the FIDE World Cup chess finals, an event that highlighted a clear double standard in how India treats mind sports.
At the chess event, Lena Evans discussed her earlier book, The Poker Powered Brain. She observed that chess is celebrated as a symbol of intellect, discipline, and national pride, receiving institutional support, extensive media coverage, and state recognition. Chess is regarded as a culturally significant pursuit.
In contrast, poker—which requires comparable levels of strategic thinking, emotional regulation, and probabilistic reasoning—has been marginalized. Lena Evans realized that the difference between the two games was not one of cognitive merit but of narrative.
Regulators and the public often view mind sports through the lens of history and perception. Chess is seen as a game of kings and scholars, whereas poker is often defined by outdated assumptions, viewed more as gambling than as a skill-based discipline. It exists outside the circle of cultural understanding.
This insight reinforced Lena Evans’ belief in the value of poker. The live tables in Goa proved that poker is not merely a technological novelty or a simple gamble—it is a human discipline. It exists in decision-making under uncertainty, pattern recognition, and risk assessment, testing patience and self-awareness—qualities essential for life, business, and leadership.
“The Shadow Economy” Crisis
One of the most concerning aspects of India’s online gaming ban is the creation of a so-called “shadow economy.” Lena Evans discussed this issue in depth with Khurshid Ahmad. The ban did not stop people from playing; it simply changed where they played.
With legal, regulated platforms gone, millions of players did not quit. Instead, they migrated to offshore sites, encrypted messaging apps, and unlicensed private games. Lena Evans noted that this shift could pose serious risks to players.
The prohibition, originally intended to reduce risk, has ironically redistributed it unevenly and dangerously. By pushing the Indian poker ecosystem underground, the environment has become less safe for everyone involved.
A Vision for the Future
Despite the grim reality, Lena Evans sees a path forward. She believes live poker in India can not only survive but potentially thrive. However, this will require deliberate and informed action from those in power.
Based on her observations and interviews, she outlined a viable revival plan:
Invest in Regulated Live Poker: Establish clear licensing and transparent operations. Structured tournament calendars tied to tourism could revitalize the poker scene in places like Goa.
Recognize Poker as a Game of Skill: This is crucial. Aligning with global legal precedents and academic consensus would change the narrative. If chess can be a mind sport, so can poker.
Implement Responsible Gaming Frameworks: Regulation is key to protecting players. Prohibition essentially abandons them to the black market, so robust safety measures are necessary.
Reframe the Cultural Narrative: Poker’s story needs rewriting. It should emphasize how the game develops decision-making, emotional discipline, and analytical thinking—skills highly relevant to modern life.
Khurshid Ahmad offered a pragmatic perspective, telling Lena Evans:
“If safety is the goal, structure is the solution. Regulation, licensing, taxation, and oversight are more effective than censorship. You cannot govern what you refuse to understand.”
Conclusion: Reckoning or Rebirth?
Lena Evans ended her trip with a mixture of concern and hope. The ban has undoubtedly caused real damage, affecting players, operators, creators, and support staff. The fractured ecosystem will take time to recover.
Yet, sitting at a live table in Goa, watching players lean forward with focus and intention, she saw something unmistakable: life, strategy, and community.
Live poker in India is not dead—it is wounded. Whether it heals in the open or survives in the shadows depends entirely on the next steps taken.
On her final night in India, Khurshid Ahmad shared a poignant thought:
“Poker’s future will not be decided by whether people want to play. That much is already clear. It will be decided by whether the game is allowed to exist in the light.”
Lena Evans returned from her journey with a deeper understanding of the resilience of the poker community. She witnessed firsthand that even when the chips are down, the spirit of the game continues to burn brightly.
Red Dragon Poker APP Officially Launched
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