Sports betting enjoys great popularity in many countries of the world and India is not an exception. However, a lot of people still have a question: is betting legal in India and where to bet safely? In this guide, we will provide you with all the necessary information about the status of betting and licensing of bookmakers in the country. 

The Current Situation Of Online Betting Legality In India

Today, gambling is considered to be illegal in India due to a law passed back in the 19th century. However, it does not say a word about online betting which means that it is not forbidden there and may be regarded as legal activity in the country. 

100% Bonus
Up to 10 000 INR
* The minimum required deposit to activate the bonus is 75 INR.
5.0
T&Cs Apply
New customers only

Before making a deposit, customers must agree to receive a sports betting bonus either on the ‘Account Settings’ page, or directly on the ‘Deposit’ page. This bonus is automatically credited to customers’ accounts once the first deposit has been made, provided that the account details have been completed in full and a phone number has been activated.

*Wager 5 times the bonus amount in accumulator bets. Each accumulator bet must contain at least 3 events with odds of 1.40 or higher.
100% Bonus
Up to 8 000 INR
* The minimum required deposit to activate the bonus is 110 INR.
5.0
T&Cs Apply
New customers only

The bonus will be credited to your account automatically once you have made your first deposit, provided that your account details are fully completed and your phone number has been verified by SMS.

*Wager 5 times the bonus amount in accumulator bets. Each accumulator bet must contain at least 3 events with odds of 1.40 or higher.

Legislation

The Public Gaming Act is a valid law in India that regulates sports betting activity these days. The legislation does not mention online betting. Therefore, bookmakers use this loophole in the law to provide their services to the people of India. So, online betting is legal in India and people who make bets in the country are not prosecuted by the authorities. There has not been a single case of a gambler being arrested or charged in India. 

Where Is Legal

There was a constitution introduced in the year 1950 which determined the right of each state to introduce its own policy regarding online betting. It means that all Indian states may make their own decision on whether to legalize gambling or not. Some states have already legitimized at least some forms of gambling such as lottery and horse racing, for example. These are Karnataka, Nagaland, Kerala, Sikkim and other ones. 

Where Is Not Legal

However, not all states have made up their mind about betting and do not try to regulate it in any way. For instance, Tamil Nadu is one of those states in India where gambling is neither allowed nor forbidden. In Maharashtra, though, this activity is regarded as illegal.

is sports betting legal in india

Is Online Betting Legal Or Illegal In India

What should be mentioned while discussing whether online betting is legal or illegal in India is the distinctions between chance and skill games. The reason for that is that one type of games may be considered legitimate whereas the other is not. 

Chance Games

These are games in which gamblers have no control over the outcome. The decisive factor in chance games is simply your luck. Examples of such games are Roulette and slot machines. Neither talent nor expertise will help you while playing those games. That is why many states in India ban chance games. 

Skill Games

Those are games in which players may improve the likelihood of winning by learning the game and developing different strategies. It indicates that you may actually have an impact on the outcome of the games you play because your success will depend on the level of your skills. Thus, skill games such as horse racing or certain card games are allowed in the country. 

Online betting is legal in India or at least it should be because it may be perceived as a skill game. So, you need to have a certain knowledge about a sports discipline as well as the match or tournament that you wager on. What is more, you should also have analytical skills in order to be able to analyze various crucial factors and produce correct predictions.  

Betting Application Legality

There are no laws that forbid mobile applications for betting so they may be regarded as legal. That is why mobile betting is legal in India. However, what you should pay attention to is not to the apps themselves but to the betting operators to which they belong to. The bookmaker needs to own a special license which will indicate that it is a legitimate and safe place for gambling that guarantees security and privacy to bettors. If an operator has such a document, then the application that it offers will also be considered legal.

100% Bonus
Up to 10 000 INR
* The minimum required deposit to activate the bonus is 75 INR.
5.0
T&Cs Apply
New customers only

Before making a deposit, customers must agree to receive a sports betting bonus either on the ‘Account Settings’ page, or directly on the ‘Deposit’ page. This bonus is automatically credited to customers’ accounts once the first deposit has been made, provided that the account details have been completed in full and a phone number has been activated.

*Wager 5 times the bonus amount in accumulator bets. Each accumulator bet must contain at least 3 events with odds of 1.40 or higher.
100% Bonus
Up to 8 000 INR
* The minimum required deposit to activate the bonus is 110 INR.
5.0
T&Cs Apply
New customers only

The bonus will be credited to your account automatically once you have made your first deposit, provided that your account details are fully completed and your phone number has been verified by SMS.

*Wager 5 times the bonus amount in accumulator bets. Each accumulator bet must contain at least 3 events with odds of 1.40 or higher.
100% Bonus
Up to 10 000 INR
* The minimum required deposit to activate the bonus is 80 INR.
5.0
T&Cs Apply
New customers only

The bonus will be credited to the customer's account automatically after the first deposit is made, unless the box "I do not want any bonuses" is ticked.

*Wager 5 times the bonus amount in accumulator bets. Each accumulator bet must contain at least 3 events with odds of 1.40 or higher.

Licensing

Platform for betting is legal in India if it has a valid license from official authorities. Then it will be allowed to offer gambling services such as the 10Cric betting app to players legitimately. Below you will uncover information on what licensing looks like in India. 

Who Issues Betting Licenses In India

The most well-known bodies that grant offshore gaming licenses are Malta, Curaçao and UK Gaming Commissions. Those gambling operators that have documents from those authorities may enter the Indian betting market without any restrictions. There is also an official body that issues local licenses in India which is the Sikkim Government.

What Are The Conditions For Licensing

The gambling operators should fulfill certain conditions for acquiring a gaming license. They should have RNG which will guarantee that all the games are fair and that the results are calculated on the basis of algorithms. Moreover, betting platforms should apply responsible gambling policy and take care of the confidentiality of players’ private data. They should also guarantee the objectivity of odds, the presence of local payment systems and stable payouts. 

When Will Sports Betting Be Legal In India?

It is hard to predict when sports betting will be legal in India in every state. It may even happen in the near future or not happen at all. India is a conservative country with outdated legislation concerning gambling. However, it has a high potential for the legalization of gambling as more and more states in the country make betting legal. So, gamblers may hope for sports betting to be permitted in India in a while.

Summary

Summing up, sports betting is legal in India because there are no regulations that would ban it. That is why online gambling platforms are allowed to operate in India. The only thing that you should remember is to gamble on the licensed platform because it will give you a great user experience and protect you from scams.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Online Betting Legal In India?

Yes, online betting is legal in India because there were no laws introduced that would ban or regulate this activity.

When Will Betting Be Legal In India?

It is impossible to specify for sure, but betting may probably be legal already in the near future.