It hasn’t been very long since online betting became a thing in India. With the rise of IPL and the growing interests of Indians in international sports, online betting sites found safe passage to India. Now the question is, ‘Is online betting legal in India?’ Well, there is no straight answer to that question as online betting in India can be termed as ‘Illegally legal’.
In India, gambling prohibition began in 1867 when the Public Gaming Act was passed. However, there was no mention of online betting as the internet was still a century away. Some sites might claim that online betting comes under the given act, quoting its statement but again, there is no specific mention of online betting sites.
Indian Government holds the discretionary power to direct the ISPs to block Indian users from accessing such websites from outside the country but looking at the current scenario, and they haven’t done it yet.
If we consider the state jurisdictions then currently there are two states in India which have separate laws in this concern. The first one is Maharashtra, which has wholly banned any kind of betting and gambling in the state. The other one is Sikkim, where the Government holds the authority to regulate such sites by issuing them licenses unless they follow specific guidelines.
Overall, the general situation of online gambling in India is still unclear, and in the shadow of it, online betting sites are running with ease, and the players don’t face any kind of trouble. Generally, online betting sites are registered in foreign countries, and they are operated outside India, and that is why the Indian Government can’t take them down. However, there are strict laws regarding the foreign exchange transactions, and hence, you have to do the transactions in Indian Rupee only.
We understand that there is no complete answer to the question, ‘Is online betting legal in India?’ While we cannot make an assertive statement regarding the legality of online betting in India, but we can still assure you that if you do it on the trusted platforms, you need not worry then.