Poker FAQs at A23

Is Poker legal in India ?

Yes, Poker (live or online) is legal in most of India.

As per the Supreme Court of India, "Such competitions, where Success depends on quite a substantial degree of Skill are not necessarily "gambling".

Though there is an element of pure chance. If a particular game is predominantly a game of skill, It would still be a game of "mere skill."

Do I need to download any software or application in order to play at A23?

You need to download the A23 Poker app and register as a user to play poker on A23.

Can I play poker from my desktop / Laptop?

Yes, Poker is available through both mobile application and desktop application. You can download from a23.com/poker.

How should I choose a Poker table?

Poker tables at A23 in the 'Lobby' are arranged according to the 'buy-in' amount & the 'blind-structure', so you can choose accordingly.

I'm a school student, Can I also play Poker at A23 ?

A23 poker products & services are intended for players who are 18+ years old or above, and of the legal age of majority in their jurisdiction. Doesn't matter if you are studying in school or college, you must be 18+ years old or above to play poker at A23.

Indian residents under the age of 18 are not authorized to avail our services and products. A23 reserves the right to request proof of age at any stage to verify that minors are not using the service. We may ban/exclude a person from playing if proof of age is not provided or if the company suspects that a person using the service is under-age. Our services and products are also not intended for users connecting to our site from jurisdiction that say it is illegal to do so.

Any underage player who has provided dishonest or inaccurate information regarding their true age or identity may have all their winnings forfeited and could face criminal prosecution.

What is Collusion?

Collusion in poker is the act of two or more people sitting at a poker table working together to win more amount from other players.

It is a negative practice and is strictly prohibited at A23.

What is Chip Dumping ?

"Chip Dumping" occurs when one player intentionally loses chips to another player at the table. Chip dumping is strictly prohibited at A23.

Me & My friend play using same wi-fi. Is it a Problem ?

A23's anti-collusion regulations prohibit you and your friend from playing at the same cash table or same tournament.

How do I buy-in on a cash table ?

It's very easy playing online poker at A23. This is what you need to do:

• Select the blinds you want to play.
• Select the amount you want to sit with.
• Start playing.

Can I play on more than one table at A23 Poker?

Yes, you can play 4 simultaneous tables in Poker mobile app, and 6 simultaneous tables in Poker desktop app

What is the correct way to leave a table?

We request our players to follow the basic playing etiquettes of poker. When you wish to exit a table, please-

• Click on the "Leave Seat" option.
• Once it is acknowledged by our gaming software, you can Leave seat from the table.
• Click on the "exit table" option.

Note: In case the above steps are not properly followed, sometimes the table may continue and the balance might get deducted as Small Blind and Big Blind.

Can I leave anytime in between the game for something urgent ? Will my seat be reserved for me ?

Yes, you can do so by clicking on the "sit-out" toggle, present at the bottom of the game screen. At cash tables, the blinds will not be deducted while you are away. But, in tournaments, the blinds will continue to be deducted until you come back.

How is the action time indicated ?

A Player 'Timer' pops up next to a player's seat which shows the time available for the player to react on his turn.

What is Anti-Banking ?

When a player leaves a table with some stack, he cannot join back for next few minutes with stack less than what he had when he sat previously on the table. Anti-banking time can be up to 60 minutes.

For ex. -If a player joins with 400 on a table of 5/10 blind with min buy-in 200 and leaves the table after winning 1200 chips and the anti banking time is 5 minutes, he cannot rejoin the table for next 5 minutes with less than 1200 chips.

What is the Min Buy-in ?

For No Limit and Pot Limit poker games, there are different buy-in amounts for different tables. Standard tables have a maximum buy-in of 100 big blinds and a minimum buy in of 20, 30, or 40 big blinds.

Note: All games are played on table stakes. Only the chips that you have on the table during a hand can be wagered in that hand.

What is the Max Buy-in ?

The maximum buy-in is 100 times the big blind for NL & PL

Who is Dealer?

The player with Dealer button is the Dealer in that hand. It is the best position to be on the table.

Dealer button shifts to the next player on the left, after every hand.

Who will be the dealer on a table?

In a cash game, the player who joins the table earliest will be the dealer. In a 2 player table, Dealer will also be the Small Blind.

What is Small blind and Big Blind ?

The "small blind" is placed by the player to the left of the dealer button.

The "big blind" is posted by the player to the left of the small blind

Which variants of poker can I play on A23 ?

At A23, you can choose from No Limit Texas Holdem, Pot-Limit Omaha and Pot-Limit Omaha 5 card variants.

What is the difference between No Limit & Pot Limit poker games ?

In a No Limit poker game, No betting limit is defined. A player can bet their entire stack in any street.

In a Pot Limit poker game, A player may bet an amount equal to the pot plus the opponents bet if any.

The minimum bet for both No Limit and Pot Limit games is equal to the big blind.

What happens if I get disconnected in the middle of a hand ? Will i lose the chips on my table ?

For Cash Games : If you are playing on a cash table you will automatically be sat out until you return and choose to post blinds again. Until you return you won't pay any blinds.

For Tourneys : If you are accidentally disconnected from the server during a game, your hand will be folded when your allocated time to make a decision has expired. However, blinds will get deducted from your chips stack until you return.

What happens when system crashes during the middle of a game ?

All transactions, including pots won and lost are posted to your Poker account at the connection of each hand.

In the unlikely event of a server crash which prevents connection of a hand, The hands in progress at every cash game will be restored by rolling back these hands as if they had not happened.

What is Buy-In in a tournament ?

The Buy In is the entry amount that is used to join a tournament or a cash table.

What is Re-entry and how to use it?

A Re-entry Tournament is a variant that allows busted players to buy back into the tournament, effectively starting from scratch as if you are a completely new player. You will almost always be given a brand new seat and be given the same starting stack you got when you first entered.

Can I leave an ongoing Tournament ?

In case you leave a tournament you will be sat out on the table and will be Blinded out (ante,small-blind,big-blind will be paid from your chip stack ) until you resume back or your chip stack becomes 0. Your final standing will be determined on the basis of when your chip stack became 0.

Can I cash out in a poker tournament ?

A Poker tournament is a tournament where players compete by playing poker. Unlike in a cash game, a player's chips in a tournament cannot be cashed out for amount and serve only to determine the player's placing.

What is a ticket in Tournament?

A tournament ticket is a "one-time-use" virtual voucher with a specified value that can be used to join a specified tournament and can be acquired by winning a satellite tournament or via special offers.

How to use a ticket to enter a tournament ?

A "Ticket" can be used to enter a specific tournament via clicking on the tournament that the player intends on joining and then clicking on the "Ticket available" button.

Do you use bots ?

A23 does not use any house players or robots. We also do not hire any individuals to play on our site.

What is RIT (Run It Twice)?

RIT can be in any stage of Game Play. It can be Pre-Flop/ Flop/ Turn/ River.

• All players should agree.
• It should be a RIT enabled Table.
• All the players should go All-In.

What is a Straddle ?

Poker straddle is a voluntary blind bet made by a player before cards are dealt. A player who straddles is effectively buying the big blind and doubling the stakes. A standard straddle is two times the amount of the big blind.

What is Auto- Muck?

If you lose a showdown you can choose to "muck" your cards. This means that you choose not to show your cards to the other player.

You can only muck if your turn comes after a winning hand in the showdown.

The Auto muck would be applicable even for Fold case scenarios.

What is an anonymous poker table?

An anonymous table doesn't use screen names to distinguish one player from another. It uses just the seat number instead.

How is TDS Calculated in A23 poker ?

AT A23 Poker, Poker TDS is to be charged if Net Winnings are greater than zero in that particular transfer.

TDS = X% * (Net Winnings) , if Net Winnings >0

TDS is deducted on each transfer which falls under the above statement but not on cumulative transfers.

For example:

If Net Winnings =12,000 in that particular transfer then TDS deducted would be 12000 * 30 %= Rs 3600

If Net Winnings =9,500 in that particular transfer then TDS deducted would be 9500 * 30 %= Rs 2850

How is GST calculated on deposit amount?

GST(Goods and Services Tax) is an indirect tax levied by the government on the supply of goods and services.

For online gaming, including online real money gaming, GST of 28% is levied on deposits made with the online gaming platforms, effective 1st October, 2023.

For example:

You deposit amount - Rs. 1,000

GST applicable - 28% (Rs. 280)

Amount Charged - Rs. 1,280

(This is applicable for all online gaming platforms)

What is Rake in Poker ?

Rake is a small percentage of fees collected from the hands as per the table stakes. Rake is calculated on the total pot size.

What is a Rake Cap in Poker?

Rake cap refers to the maximum amount of rake fee that can be collected from a hand on the table.

How much rake does A23 take?

The rake is usually 2% to 5% of the pot in each poker hand.

However, we do not collect rake if a game ends Pre-flop.

What is Redeemable balance?

Redeemable balance is the maximum cash balance that you are entitled to withdraw from your account at any point of time. It is calculated based on your wins/losses on various game tables. Cash added by a player can solely be used to play cash tables and tournaments.

What are the types of Redeems available?

Below are the two types of Redeem available:

Standard Redeem-

Typically processed after 24 hours from request time. After 24 hours, subject to fairplay checks, it may take longer to process in case additional checks are required. Else it will be processed immediately.

Instant Redeem-

Usually the amount is credited instantly in your bank account/wallet. Subject to fairplay checks, it may take longer to process in case additional checks are required.

What is UTR ID and where can I view it?

A UTR ID (Unique Transaction Reference) is a unique reference code that is attached to every transaction which helps player to check transaction status with the bank. UTR ID will be visible in redeem's detailed view in redeem history page, once redeem is sent to bank for processing.

Why is money not credited to my bank account even if redeem status is shown as successful?

If Redeem status is shown as successful, money will be credited to your bank account by end of the day.

Will I be notified after money is credited to my bank account?

Yes. SMS will be sent to your registered mobile number. If you wish to change your mobile number, send an email to info@a23.com from your registered email ID.

Is it mandatory to get KYC verified for processing redeem requests?

Yes. KYC has to be verified to place a redeem request.

Will I receive money on 2nd, 4th Saturday and other bank holidays?

If no unusual gameplay activity is identified, Redeems will be processed through IMPS on the same day or it will be processed next working day through NEFT. NEFT will not be available on 2nd,4th Saturday and bank holidays

Is there a limit to the number of bank accounts that I can add to redeem my amount?

Yes. You can add utmost three bank accounts.