Is Betting Legal in India?

Is sport betting legal in India? Is betting legal or illegal in India? Have you ever asked yourself these questions, or perhaps some others regarding the legality of betting in India?

Betting is legal in many countries, but India happens to be one of the few countries where betting has not yet been legalised. There are different forms of betting people take part in and betting on sports is one of them. Other events people place bets on include political events like elections, betting on athletic events, on TV competitions, on your favourite contestant in a game and several other events. Betting on sports can be done in two different ways: it includes betting on common sports physically as well as betting online.

Common sports loved by the Indian population include cricket, football, badminton, tennis, and basketball. Cricket is the most loved game in India but sadly, Indians cannot place bets on their favourite sports as a result of the gambling laws in India.

Betting on sports is illegal in India, except for bets placed on horse races and lotteries. The Public Gambling Act of 1867 is the main law guiding gambling in India. This act has divided common games bet on into two broad categories: games of chance and games of skill. Unlike other forms of betting, horse racing is considered a game of skill, which makes it legal in India. The problem with this law is classifying which games are games of skill and which are games of chance. Indian bettors are advised to stick with horse racing as this is clearly stated as a game of skill. Breaking this law attracts a fine of Rs 200 or up to three months in prison.

Online betting in India is not clearly stated as illegal in India’s legislation; therefore, Indian bettors can bet online. Indian players are not at risk of getting punished for betting online due to this. There are several legal offshore sportsbooks found online that cater to Indian punters. These sportsbooks are managed under different jurisdictions to ensure that all Indian gamblers are covered.

Where is Betting Legal in India?

India is a large country with 29 states. Since the Indian government has given states autonomy regarding gambling laws, different states have different gambling laws. Different states have specific games they consider as games of skill based on the autonomy granted to them.

Of the 29 states in India, Sikkim is the only state that has clear online gambling legislation. Sikkim passed a law in 2009 which allows sportsbooks licensed in the state to operate within the state. This was as a result of the revenue got from opening its first casino and running some successful lotteries in the state. Other states regulating online betting include Nagaland and Telangana.

Lottery is allowed in thirteen states in the country, the most notable of them being:

• Goa
• Maharashtra
• Andhra Pradesh

Goa and Sikkim are the two famous gambling locations in India. Goa has seven physical casinos and many casino boats. Table games not allowed on the mainland can be found on the casino boats which are offshore. Casinos in this region operate under the Goa, Daman, and Diu Public Gambling Act of 1976.

In the state of Maharashtra, games of luck are prohibited. Games of skill, on the other hand, are allowed. Games allowed are lottery and betting on horse racing. Betting online is outrightly prohibited in the state of Maharashtra, while there are no clear laws concerning online gambling in many other states in India.

Since betting on horse races is legal in India, the following states have racecourses and are therefore common destinations for horse race betting:

• Mumbai
• West Bengal
• Tamil Nadu
• Maharashtra
• Karnataka
• Andhra Pradesh

Laws Regulating Online Betting

Online betting in India: legal or not?

India’s betting is regulated by the Public Gambling Act of 1867 and the Technology Act of 2000. The Public Gambling Act makes no mention of online betting which can be logically explained by the time this law was passed. The Technology Act of 2000, on the other hand, is a legal document guiding electronic activities. This law addresses cybercrimes and other internet activities but has somehow left out internet betting. Some of the crimes covered in this law include hacking, phishing, identity thefts, spamming and more. With online betting not addressed in this law, it follows that Indian players can gamble online without repercussions.

Horse racing was legalised in India in 1996 by the Supreme Court of India. The Public Gambling Act of 1867 does not permit sports betting in India. However, the Public Gambling Act of 1867 and the Technology Act of 2000 do not mention online betting at any point, hence online betting is not plainly illegal in India. The government in the 1950 Constitution, left states to decide which gambling laws to be enforced in their territories. Some states like Sikkim have their individual gambling laws.

Why Choose 4rabet?

Wondering how to bet legally in India? 4rabet is the place you need! 4rabet is a legal online betting site specifically for Indian bettors. 4rabet holds a license in Curacao and with us, you have access to live sports and several other casino games you will not find in Indian online casinos. Some of the benefits of betting on 4rabet include the following:

Game Collection

Betting on 4rabet gives you access to a wide range of games of different categories. Game categories on 4rabet include:

• Horse racing;
• Indian Premier League: cricket;
• Live casino: live roulette, live blackjack, live baccarat and other live dealer games;
• Virtual sports: simulated sports like FIFA, UEFA leagues;
• Live sports: cricket betting, table tennis betting, baseball, football, basketball betting
• Slot games;
• Poker;
• Table games.

Mobile Compatibility

4rabet is developed using HTML5 technology which means Indian bettors can access the website whenever they want to, on whatever available device.

Customer Support

4rabet customer support is always available every day of the week. All your questions will be answered by customer support as soon as you address them. The customer support team is made up of professionals who ensure that your gaming experience is top-notch.

Numerous Payment Options

Indian players do not have to worry about converting currencies as they can make deposits and withdrawals in Rupees.