Is Betting Online Legal In India

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  1. Got more questions about Indian online sports betting with Parimatch? Get in touch with the experts at Parimatch today! Parimatch.in is a fully-licensed and legal betting operation providing legal sports betting in India.
  2. Online Betting in India – An Overview At present, online betting in India is not widely regulated, making it prohibited from a purely legal and legislative perspective.

India, on the other hand, is still playing with their laws. According to the Public Gambling Act, 1867, a law even older than Mahatma Gandhi still rules, owning the operations of any gambling house, entering a gambling place, or having a gambling device is prohibited. It does have an exception, though.

More and more bookmakers are now catering for customers based in India, however is betting on sports really legal? This article will explain everything that there is to know about gambling in India, perfect for those who are still unsure.

Those wishing to place bets will want to do so whilst ensuring that they do not violate any laws, however information in this area is still a little difficult to understand completely. Gambling of any kind was formally unregulated, meaning that many people earned a small fortune, while others lost significant amounts of cash. As a result, the Indian government introduced the Public Gambling Act of 1867. This act stated that all casinos or public gambling facilities were prohibited, however there is no mention of online betting here, offering hope to millions of potential punters. As a result, betting on sports through an online bookmaker is completely legal, providing that they hold a valid gambling license. Online gambling is now regulated in both Goa and Sikkim, however it is still illegal in Maharashtra. Meanwhile, with most bookmakers operating outside of India, laws surrounding the operation of gambling facilities can generally be discarded.
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Which are the best legal betting sites in India:

Highlights
22Bet Review
  • Indian Rupee as a currency
  • Very Competitive odds
  • Website available in Hindi
  • Indian Rupee as a currency
  • Very Competitive odds
  • Website available in Hindi
22Bet Review
Betway Review
  • Good number of markets
  • Live streaming available
  • Accepts Indian Rupees
  • Good number of markets
  • Live streaming available
  • Accepts Indian Rupees
Betway Review
Spin Sports Review
  • 70 sports during the year
  • 24/7 customer support
  • App for all devices no download req.
  • 70 sports during the year
  • 24/7 customer support
  • App for all devices no download req.
Spin Sports Review
BetWinner Review
  • Hindi website & accepts Indian Rupees
  • Huge number of sports markets
  • Great Welcome Bonus & other offers
  • Hindi website & accepts Indian Rupees
  • Huge number of sports markets
  • Great Welcome Bonus & other offers
BetWinner Review
20Bet Review
  • Great odds
  • Cryptocurrency accepted
  • Offers online casino
  • Great odds
  • Cryptocurrency accepted
  • Offers online casino
20Bet Review

Legalisation of Sports Betting & Gambling Laws in India

Betting on horse racing was made legal in 1996 by the Supreme Court, however sports including cricket and soccer were not. The breeding of horses is a profitable industry in India, which is believed to have been a significant factor in this decision. However, the government is well aware of the gambling activity of a significant proportion of the population today, while the fact that they have done little to stop this meaning that it is not a major concern for them.

Factors to Consider When Selecting a Bookmaker in India

Despite the Indian gambling industry being unregulated, this does not mean that punters should not choose carefully when it comes to finding a new betting site. The best betting platforms are both secure and reliable, however the following points must be taken into consideration before making a final decision:

Licensing – The first thing to consider when registering with a bookmaker it to work out whether they have a valid gambling license in India for customers those based here. Major authorities in the UK, Malta or Curacao are all well respected within the industry, with such authorities having to follow all rules and regulations when it comes to wagering online.

Security – There are also a number of security measures in place on legal betting sites to ensure that all transactions are processed safely. An SSL encryption is often used by bookmakers in this area, whilst our reviews demonstrate which platforms score highly in security also.

Banking – The best bookmakers will also offer a good amount of banking options to customers based in India, whether it be for depositing or withdrawing funds. Credit and debit cards, bank transfers and e-wallets are all favoured by punters, while those in India are likely to have some more specific requirements in this area too.

Customer Support – Those offering 24/7 support for customers operating online are likely to attract punters as a result, however not all betting sites cater well for Indian-based bettors in this area. While this should not be needed too often, it is nice to know that help is on hand where necessary. So, register with a bookmaker that puts a good amount of emphasis upon their customer service features, whether it be via telephone, email or live chat.

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Is betting legal in India? The simple answer to this question is, yes!

The cornerstones of legal betting in India

Two of the most frequently asked questions we get from our readers are; Is betting legal in India and is gambling legal in India. We fully appreciate your concern and confusion around this topic. There are not many clear-cut answers to be found out there. For this matter, we have decided to become your guiding light. Someone you can trust and rely on when in doubt. Have every confidence in when venturing out in the online gambling landscape. – India Gamblers that is!

The founders and authors of India Gamblers are all gamblers just like you. We love betting on our favorite sports and pass some time spinning 5-reels. Gambling is sometimes frowned upon in India, however, it mostly stems from ignorance. As long as you gamble with your head and not over it. Stay true to yourself as a responsible gambler. You should also be able to do it legally – which you can, let’s find out how and why.

Is gambling legal in India

Let’s start with the basics

Gambling in India is regulated through federal and state laws. Governing what you can and cannot do, more or less prohibiting all forms of gambling. Regulations differ considerably between states, but online gambling is not regulated at all, which is the key here. The only exception to this rule is regulated and licensed state lotteries. Which are operated in nine states such as Goa, Sikkim, Punjab, and Kerala.

Is Betting Online Legal In India

Key legislation governing online gambling in India

The key legislation that is being relied upon here comes from the Indian constitution. 7th schedule, Public Gaming Act 1867, state legislation, which expressly deals with land-based offline gambling – but there is no mentioning of online gambling whatsoever.

Is betting online legal in india right now

As there is no mentioning of online gambling in the law, they cannot prosecute anyone for it either. As long as the business offering online gambling is based outside of India you’re fine. Otherwise, they could be considered offering gambling on Indian soil which is prohibited. On India Gamblers, we only promote Indian betting sites that are incorporated abroad and have their servers located outside of India. This makes it legal for them to offer their services to Indian customers. And vice versa makes it legal for Indian customers to use their services.

The only state that expressly prohibits gambling is Maharashtra. This means that casinos are not allowed to operate in the state. Even though the Maharashtra Prevention of Gambling act makes it illegal to run a casino. Certain forms of gambling are still legal in the state. Such as horse racing, lottery and card games like rummy and poker.

What is currently being done by the Indian government to enforce the gambling law

The Indian government is blocking all intellectual property, software, and websites coming from local Indian gambling operators. Making it more or less impossible to run a betting site from within the borders of India. The Indian government has also prohibited foreign direct investments towards gambling in India and foreign exchange transactions for gambling purposes.

Nothing of the aforementioned will, however, affect you as a gambler using the betting sites listed here on India Gamblers. We only promote legal international betting sites.

What can we expect from online gambling regulations in India moving forward

OnlineOnline

The state of Sikkim quite recently approved online gambling on the Playwin lotto platform for a five-year term. And Goa has legalized land-based gambling on cruise ships and in hotels. Advertising gambling is generally also allowed with strict rules across most of India.

Many countries, including the UK, have for long lobbied for new Indian gambling regulations. Mostly to get rid of match-fixing and corruption. This is also the reason why Ajit Singh Shekhawat, Head of the Anti-Corruption unit at the Board of Control for Cricket in India, came out and strongly argued for the legalization of betting. To challenge fraud and corruption associated with Indian cricket. He argued that not only would we be able to clean up the gambling industry in India. But the country would also be able to earn a lot of well-deserved income by making gambling taxable.

Most recent legal events

What is interesting though is that India’s supreme court in December 2019 ruled in favor of those supporting fantasy sports in India. From now on Fantasy sports and rummy will be seen as a game of skill and will not, despite some loud protesting from the opposition, be branded as an illegal gambling product.

As recent as in January 2020 it was also decided to set a flat tax rate of 28% on lotteries. Ruled by India’s Goods and Services Tax Council. This is a major step forward in terms of legalizing, and the state profiting from, gambling.

A lot of things are moving in the right direction. We certainly hope to see that online betting and online casino will soon be fully regulated and legal across all of India.

Until then, you can always be sure that all betting sites listed on India Gamblers are legal and safe to use. For you as an Indian citizen.

Is gambling legal in India?

Yes, it is legal to gamble in every state in India except for Maharashtra. Online Gambling is also legal as long as the betting or casino site is based outside of India.

Is bet365 legal in india?

Yes, bet365 is perfectly legal for Indian gamblers since the company behind the betting site isn’t based on Indian soil.