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Is Online Sports Betting Legal In India?

India has emerged as one of the fastest-growing and scaling markets for online sports betting. Indians love sports more than anything, and millions of us place online bets on sports every year.
Major sports events like the Indian Super League, Premier Kabaddi League, and the Indian Premier League have drawn the maximum attention of sports enthusiasts.
And these people are always excited to place online bets and real money from online sports betting sitesin India. With millions involved in online sports betting in India, you may wonder whether they’re doing it legally or not.

If you’re still not confident or unaware of the legal status of online sports betting in the country, this is the article for you! Read till the end to get all your answers.


History of Betting Laws In India


Let’s go back to India’s colonial period. It was the year 1867 when gambling was first restricted in India under the Public Gambling Act.


As per the law, it is illegal for anyone to offer or engage in gambling services in the nation. The law makes it illegal for Indian citizens to use or visit a public gambling facility.

However, this same law does not mention online sports betting because it’s clear the internet wasn’t a thing in that era. Thus, arises the question: is online sports betting legal?

It’s obvious to have this question, as the law of 1867 doesn’t forbid online betting. If the Indian Government wanted to restrict online sports betting completely, they could have done that.

It would’ve taken them no time to make amendments and prohibit online betting. However, the fact that they never made any changes means it’s legal in India.


Online Sports Betting: Is It Legal In India?


The simple answer is yes. Yes, online sports betting is entirely legal in India. To date, no federal law prohibits the operation of online betting in India.

Remember that online sports betting is only legal if you participate in sites that are run or operated by offshore providers.

Every state has the individual right to determine whether they want to impose any laws or regulations on the operations of online betting in their state.

Till now, there are only a handful of Indian states that have imposed laws against the act of online betting.

To summarize, online sports betting is indeed legal in India, with some Indian states as an exception, and only if you participate from any offshore site.


Overview of The Legal Status of Online Sports Betting In India


According to the rules and regulations outlined in the Public Gambling Act 1867, every form of gambling is illegal in India. It means placing physical bets on sports like football or cricket is prohibited in the country.


You may often see headlines in the newspaper stating the shutdown of any gang conducting cricket betting. However, things are more complicated than you can imagine.

That’s because games of skill are permitted in India, and cricket or football isn’t a part of it. For instance, placing bets on horse racing and lotteries in India is legal. There’s no apparent reason behind such complications in the gambling laws.

In any way, if you’re looking for the legal status of online betting in India, consider yourself fortunate. The federal law, including the Public Gambling Act, mentions nothing about prohibiting online betting in India.

Maybe that’s because when the law was passed, there was no such thing as the internet. However, after some amendments, we concluded that online sports betting is legal in the country only if you participate in bets at offshore betting sites.

There is more to learn about the legal status of sports betting. So, continue reading.
Statewise Online Sports Betting Law In India


You may already know that our constitution was introduced in 1950. According to our constitution, every Indian state can make and amend its betting laws.
Thus, what the central Government did is that instead of implementing any federal law to legalize or prohibit online betting, it left things up to the state government.
It gave decision-making power to individual states, which means it’s up to the states to decide whether they want online sports betting banned or legalized.
It implies that every Indian state has its own set of online sports betting laws. While some Indian states have lenient laws, others have more stringent ones.
For instance, the game of skill is permitted in Maharashtra, whereas the state prohibits the games of luck. This is also applicable to a few other states like Karnataka.
The local Government of Sikkim is always doing its best to legalize and regulate online sports betting. The state has started taking license applications to permit betting operators to run gambling facilities in the state.
In several other states, there’s no mention or implementation of any laws concerning online sports betting, making it legal. Thus, it’s not illegal to bet online in any other Indian state other than Maharashtra.


Can I Place Bets Online In Any Online Betting Site In India?


Yes, you can place bets online on any online betting site in India legally, provided an offshore provider operates it. You should always be careful while considering the sportsbook site.


You should only engage with online sports betting sites that any foreign company owns. The loophole in the gambling law in India allows these offshore-based providers to run their websites smoothly and seamlessly in India.


This loophole also benefits every Indian punter who wishes to place bets on their favourite sports online.


Conclusion

There’s no news or prediction about the complete legalization of online sports betting in India. States like Maharashtra prohibit any form of gambling, including online betting.
Thus, if you’re a sports enthusiast looking to place bets online, you’re in bad luck.

In conclusion, even though the current gambling laws in the nation are unclear, you can still participate in online sports betting, as placing bets online at offshore sites is legal and safe.

Get started with legal betting sites and enjoy winning real money by placing bets on your favourite sports.

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