Is Betting Legal in India in 2021?
There are no federal laws against online betting in India.
As India is one of the biggest countries in the world, it is only natural to ask the question “Is betting legal in India?” The population in the country is very passionate about sports, whether it is cricket, football or horse racing. In addition, it is the second biggest country in the world and for this reason alone has a diverse population with many interests.
Betting is an ideal way for you to add some entertainment to watching a sports event, with many different great perks attached to the activity. As there are no national laws currently that prohibit online betting, you can place sports bets online as you please. This article will further explore the issue of legal betting in India and all of the available options for legal betting sites in India. We will take a look at the different types of gambling, the states of India, and of course "Skill Games" which are perfectly legal. So make yourself a coffee, lean back and let yourself be surprised.
We cannot give legal advice and the information on our website cannot be used as legal advice.
However, we have done our best to provide the most accurate and best possible information (in cooperation with legal experts) that can be researched to bet safely in India.
The Current Legal Situation of Online Betting in India
Currently, there are no federal laws that prohibit legal betting sites in India. The main piece of legislation on the topic is the Public Gaming Act of 1867 and this has never been updated to include any mention of online gambling or betting. There is also no mention of online betting in the Information Technology Act of 2000.
As a result, every state can decide for themselves if they want laws relating to online betting, with only a few states having explicit laws against betting online. Therefore, online sports betting for the most part is legal in the country.
Yes, online betting is currently legal in India as there is no form of national law that bans the activity. Each state as a result has the ability to decide for themselves if they want legal online betting or not. While most states allow online betting, there are a couple that currently do not.
Currently, you will not find online betting sites that are licensed in India, despite the activity being legal. Therefore, you will be dealing with offshore sports betting sites that have proven their quality and security in other countries around the world. Many of the best sites around are open to Indian users.
Currently, there are no national laws that do not allow you to place online casino games if you are in India. There may be certain states that will only allow people to play games of skill rather than casino games that are deemed to be games of luck or chance. However, these rules are not really enforced.
Currently, while online betting is not illegal nationally in India, there are no legal betting sites in India that are licensed in the country. Therefore, you will have to deal with offshore betting sites if you want to take part in betting legal in India. They will offer different types of payment methods that are easy to use, such as Paytm, PhonePe, Google Pay, Skrill, and Neteller.
While online betting is legal on a national level in India, there are some states that prohibit it. Some regions also ban games of chance. Luckily, online betting is considered to be a game of skill, meaning that the activity will be legal in those states where games of chance are not allowed.
The Backstory of the Indian Gambling Laws
Over the years, there have been a couple of major forms of legislation in India that outlines the framework of gambling across the nation. Oftentimes, these pieces of legislation can become outdated as technology improves, and new forms of gambling come to the fore. Here is a brief look at the major gambling acts in the country and what they mean:
Public Gambling Act of 1867
The Public Gambling Act of 1867 is the main set of laws in place that make it illegal for any form of public gambling house to exist. There is the chance of getting a financial penalty or even prison time for people found to be operating such illegal venues.
As this piece of legislation dates all of the way back to the 19th century, there naturally is not going to be any mention at all about the internet. Therefore, online betting is legal on a national level.
Information Technology Act of 2000
The Information Technology Act outlines a structure for the governance of electronic platforms. It refers to the various types of cybercrimes, such as hacking and phishing, detailing the punishments attached to each of these crimes.
There is no specific mention of online gambling or betting in this legislation. This means that betting in India is still legal on a national level and is why many offshore online betting platforms target customers in India. They even accept the likes of Indian rupees as a form of deposit and provide betting markets of releasing sporting events all accords the country.
Which Role does the Different States Play in India?
While sports betting is legal on a national level, the individual states in the country are able to make their own rules on the issue. Some states do not allow games of chance or luck, but they do allow skill games. For example, the states of Maharashtra and Karnataka allow games of skill, while games of luck are illegal.
Some states are trying to embrace gambling. In Sikkim, the local government wants to regulate online betting. Certain states are indifferent to gambling, such as in Tamil Nadu where it is legal or illegal to place online bets
A game of skill is when the player is able to use some level of expertise in order to enhance their chances of winning at a given game. For example, poker and sports betting are games of chance as you can put your knowledge and expertise to work and increase your odds of winning.
A game of chance is when the outcome of a game is completely random, so you have no control over the outcome of a given round. For example, roulette is a game of chance as you have no control over where the ball is going to land.
Why Has Horse Racing a Special Role?
Horse racing is very popular in India as a sport and is widely accepted as a form of legal betting in the country. Even those states that do not allow sports betting will usually have an exception for betting on horse races. This form of gambling also generates a lot of tax revenue for the state governments, and the Supreme Court in India has clarified that horse racing betting is completely legal. This will likely not change in the future.
Will there be Regulated Online Betting in India?
While the likes of online betting is not out-and-out illegal in India, there is currently no regulated market in place for the most part. There is a push to create a regulated framework that would allow local governments to garner a lot of tax revenue from these sorts of activities and take money out of the pockets of the offshore and black markets operators.
There have been some attempts in recent years to introduce forms of legal online betting, so it might only be a matter of time before this actually becomes a reality. However, there are no guarantees. Despite this uncertainty, you will at least have the offshore betting sites to use for your legal online betting.
That’s the way: Licensed & regulated Online Sportsbooks
When it comes to betting sites in India, you will mostly be looking at offshore platforms. These will vary in terms of the types of markets they offer, their ease of use, and their bonus offers. There can be a lot of different options for players in India, so it can be tough narrowing down the different options and figuring out which is the best fit for your given needs. First and foremost, you want to use a site that is regulated by a respected authority, such as the Malta Gaming Authority, UK Gambling Commission or the government in Curacao.
- Betting Markets: First and foremost, you want to be dealing with a sportsbook that has all of the types of markets that you prefer. This may be for certain sports or games that are taking place in India. You want to have a multitude of betting types for each market. If you are a fan of live betting, this may be another important consideration to have. You can check to see what types of games will be offered in-play and the range of markets. Some platforms will even allow you to live stream the games.
- Licensing and Security: As you are dealing with platforms that are not part of a regulated market in India, naturally you need to be careful about who you trust. Many of the leading global sportsbooks will cater to people in India, which eases the mind a lot. You should check to see what sorts of licenses the operator holds in other countries and jurisdictions. Checking out reviews of the platform and checking the likes of social media and forums to see what other people in India are saying about their user experience is also important. Finally, you want to make sure that they honor withdrawals and keep your data safe through the use of encryption technology.
- Ease of Use: With an online betting site, you want to make sure that the platform is very simple and easy to use. This means having a good site design, allowing you to quickly find the types of markets that you are looking for. A good live betting interface may be important, as well as having the ability to see a wide range of markets on a given sports event that you can use to enhance your decision-making process. You may also want to be able to place bets on your mobile device, so the ability to do so will also be an important aspect to look at with a given offering.
- Bonus Offers: One of the great aspects of signing up for a new sports betting account is the welcome bonus package that you can get your hands on. This allows you to get your new account started with a nice bonus. These will range in size and type. Most will offer some sort of free bet, whether it is a no deposit free bet, a deposit match bet or a risk-free bet. Whatever the case may be, these are always a plus. You may also want to see what types of regular promotions are in place for existing customers at the given platform. Finally, there may be a loyalty reward program that is a part of the offering that allows you to earn bonuses every time you place a bet.
Which betting site is the best to bet on?
If you are looking to get started betting online in India, then there are many great platforms out there today for you to choose from. However, some stand out from the crowd. In this case, 10Cric ticks all of the boxes. Its main focus is on cricket betting, but it caters to all other major sports in the country.
There is a wide range of betting markets, an easy to use platform and a good selection of payment methods. The signup process takes just a few minutes and you can get your hands on a great welcome bus package. What are you waiting for?
