Teen Patti is a card game with a deeply rooted background in India. Even though there are no specific details on when the game was invented, it is considered an ancient and cultural card game. There have also been many mentions of the game in different books of history. It has spread out of India into Southeast Asia and is also penetrating other nations of the world.
In this article, we will discuss how the game became popular in India and also began to spread out of India. But before we continue, let’s take a brief look at the game itself.
What is Teen Patti?
In Hindi, the word “Teen Patti” means three cards. It is considered as a game of poker that is played by dealing three cards to each player. It is popularly believed that the game was inspired by the British card game called three-card brag. This belief is most likely true as Teen Patti possesses many similarities to the British game, considering the history of the game and social influence.
Three-card brag was created in the UK as far back as the eighteenth century. It follows almost the same gameplay as Teen Patti. They both start with an ante and follow a similar ranking of hands. However, the rankings are named differently in both games. The variation of both games is where you’ll notice significant differences.
Another big difference is in their popularity. Three-card brag used to be popular in Europe, but other games like Texas Hold’em have overtaken it. Meanwhile, Teen Patti has only grown in popularity. As stated by Arjuna Patel from teenpattibaba.in Teen Patti is one of the most-played card games in India. Now, let’s take a look at the origin and how it began to grow in popularity.
Teen Patti Cultural and Historical Context
The fame enjoyed by Teen Patti started with its close connection with India’s fundamental cultural heritage, religious festivals, and social gatherings in the country.
One of the significant events that made it famous is Diwali, a yearly feast in which families celebrate together. It is usually accompanied by numerous household and social rituals that make the festival enjoyable. Card games where the real money is wagered are played during the festival, and Teen Patti is the primary game.
Another big festival where Teen Patti is being played is Janmashtami – the birth of Krishna. Janmashtami is an important occasion where members of families come together to bond and celebrate. They carry out many fun activities during the event, including gambling with Teen Patti.
For many tribes, Teen Patti is more than just a leisure activity but an obsession. Members of the families, including kids, play for long hours throughout their festivals and even forgetting the need to eat.
Furthermore, the love for Teen Patti transcends beyond gambling during festivals. The game is pretty popular everywhere in India. States like Gujarati and Maharashtra are practically crazy for it. In the past, people only played in their homes and at house parties. But in these states now, it is played among large groups of people, with many organizing Teen Patti events through Whatsapp and Facebook groups.
While many look at the game as a family event, others see it as a party or business event. However, the common ground among all is the “gamblers instincts” that comes with the festivals. This is mainly because Indian history has taught them that the gods also gamble. Hence, devotees also find it exciting to gamble. To many of them, it’s considered as a reflection of their fate. It’s seen as a symbolic act of overcoming oneself and the other players. The tension and suspense that comes with it give participants a feeling of self-knowledge and connect them with their culture.
And there is also a group of people who play Teen Patti regardless of religious views. They do it to have fun and because every other person is playing.
Playing Teen Patti today
Playing Teen Patti outside of festivals, family or social gatherings can be a bit tricky today. The Indian gambling law is quite complicated, and gambling is not considered legal.
Since Teen Patti is a game of chance, it is considered gambling and has led to a few Taash parties being busted. Even though it is very rare, being busted is a situation many gamblers would like to avoid. However, the legality of gambling differs from state to state. Therefore, Teen Patti is available in a few states where brick and mortar casinos are allowed. This means people who do not want to wait until occasions or festivals can play the game by visiting the casinos.
Better still, one can choose the option of online Teen Patti. So many apps and sites allow Indians and other countries to play Teen Patti legally today. You can simply visit any Indian online casino today and enjoy Teen Patti for fun or real money.
