Gaming laws are somewhat restrictive on paper in India, but a close look at the reality of the situation shows that all forms of gambling are widespread in India. To begin, it is estimated that Indians wager the equivalent of $60 billion a year both online and in the real world. The country clearly has a lot of potential owing to an expanding middle class and a population approaching 1.3 billion people.

1. Legal Online Betting Sites In India
2. Legal Online Gambling Sites In India Right Now
3. Legal Online Cricket Betting Sites In India

Best Indian Betting Sites

This type of Gambling leads to various crimes like corruption, betting of things other than money, money laundering, etc. If we talk about legal gambling, it is one of the major sources for revenue for the respective state. In India, the major states that have legalized online gambling in casinos are Goa, Daman, and Sikkim. India, there are no legal means for prosecuting those who choose to place their bets online. For that reason, India is a fast-growing market for online gambling. With 1.2 billion inhabitants and a growing middle class, India shows great potential for e-gaming operators. Offshore betting sites such as Bet365 have already entered. As of September 2019, the situation with online betting in India is not 100% clear. Officially, betting and gambling are illegal in India. However, no laws specifically make online betting illegal, and there are numerous offshore betting platforms that accept bets from Indian citizens. Royal Panda Casino is our current top site for Indian online casino players, and all our recommended online gambling sites offer: Easy, fast deposits and withdrawals in Indian Rupees 24/7.

I’ll start with a quick summary of how Indian betting sites operate today and then follow that up with more detail below. The basic of it is this: various laws may or may not apply to online betting depending on how you interpret them and in which state you live. However, it is fairly clear that there are no laws that target individuals who place bets online. Millions of people gamble online in India every year and we have yet to see a case in which someone has been prosecuted for doing so.

There is considerable controversy as to whether any of the country’s laws can even be applied to online gaming. Outside of Nagaland and Sikkim (which will discuss in further detail below), there is no legal mechanism by which someone actually living in India could start a betting site and begin accepting wagers. On the other hand, betting sites located in other countries operate under a completely different set of laws that allow them to accept wagers from people anywhere in the world, including India.

Therefore, anyone living in India who wants to play poker, bet on sports or play casino games should look to foreign operators, or any of the Indian betting sites listed above. Each of these betting sites is licensed in its home country and is more than happy to accept Indian customers, process rupee deposits and issue payouts to winners.

A Closer Look at India’s Gambling Laws

Gaming laws are mostly relegated to the state level in India, but the central government does have some power to impact the industry. The most significant federal law on gambling is the Public Gaming Act of 1867. Considering the law was written 150 years ago, it should be no surprise that it makes no mention of the internet.

What it does say is that it is illegal for anyone to be found in a gaming house. The penalty for doing so is a fine not exceeding 100 rupees or imprisonment not exceeding one month. Furthermore, any person found inside a gaming house is assumed to have been there for the purpose of gambling unless that person can prove otherwise.

So, what does this have to do with online gambling? It appears not much, but it depends on how state officials define “gaming house.” The law itself defines a gaming house as follows:

“any house or room or tent or enclosure or vehicle or vessel or any place whatsoever in which any instruments of gaming are kept or used for gaming purposes”

Betting sites certainly cannot be described as houses, rooms, tents or enclosures, but it’s possible that a betting site could be considered a “vessel” or “any place whatsoever.” To date, nobody has tested a court’s interpretation of this wording. We simply do not have the case law to determine if this definition could ever be used to describe an Indian betting site.

The fact that the definition has never been tested as it applies to online betting is a good thing for Indian gamblers. It indicates that authorities have little interest in pursuing individual gamblers. Online gambling has been available for roughly two decades now and we have yet to see a regular online gambler prosecuted under the Public Gaming Act.

The 2007 Payment and Settlement Act is another federal law that has indirect implications for online gambling. This act gives full power to the Reserve Bank of India to regulate electronics payments throughout India. The act gives broad powers to the central bank, allowing it to stop electronic payments as it sees fit. Payment processors can be inspected without warrants and forced to share customers’ financial data with the government.

In other words, the act gives the government sweeping powers over the types of payment methods that Indians use to fund their online betting accounts. The act has caused some problems for credit and debit card deposits, but Indians can still use e-wallets such as Skrill and Neteller to make payments and withdraw winnings.

The Information Technology Act, 2000 gave the central government the authority to regulate internet activity and the transmission of information that information that can corrupt people. A 2011 publication of rules related to the act specifically mentions gambling.

The publication of the rules does give the central government the authority to order internet service providers to block access to websites that discuss gambling. So far, it appears the government has taken little-to-no action in using the power of the act to prevent online gambling.

State Level Gaming Laws

India’s constitution grants each state broad authority over the regulation of both real world and online gambling. Two states, Goa and Sikkim, do allow brick-and-mortar casinos. There are a handful of casinos in Sikkim and over a dozen in Goa.

Sikkim first opened the doors to online gambling with the passage of the Sikkim Online Gaming (Regulation) Act, 2008 and then followed that up with the Sikkim Online Gaming (Regulation) Rules, 2009 to make the act operational. These laws paved the way for online gambling by giving operators the ability to apply for licenses and offer games of chance and sports betting for real money over the internet.

Originally, lawmakers sought to give online betting sites the freedom to accept customers from across India. This law would have essentially brought online gambling to the entire nation. However, that aspect of the law was later struck down after the government ruled that Sikkim could only offer online gambling to customers located within the state.

The gaming rules implemented in 2009 set a tax rate of 1% of gross gaming yield, set a minimum participation age of 18, set advertising standards and clarified what is expected of licensed operators to ensure fair games for players. Just some of the requirements include providing an adequate means for generating truly random results, clearly explaining to players the house advantage of each game and keep records relating to player identities, player balances, games played, times played and so on.

Later, the state government passed the Sikkim Online Gaming (Regulations) Amendment Bill 2015. This bill authorized operators to offer real money sports betting, poker and casino games in betting shops across Sikkim by way of “intranet gaming terminals.” Two established gaming operators in the state quickly got to work and opened roughly 50 betting shops in different locations.

India’s first full-fledged sports betting site opened in 2016. M88.com was authorized by state authorities and may now offer real money sports bets to customers physically located in Sikkim. Offshore sites still accept customers from all parts of India, but M88 is the first to be truly licensed in Sikkim.

Nagaland began the process of addressing online gaming with a bill passed by the legislative assembly in 2016. This bill addresses “games of skill” and allows licensed operators to offer games such as rummy, fantasy sports, poker, chess and virtual golf for real money online.

The Nagaland Prohibition of Gambling and Promotion of Games of Skill Bill, 2015 makes use of a broad definition of “game of skill” in order to allow operators to offer a wide variety of games. The bill has since been implemented, but it could face challenges as India’s Supreme Court has yet to issue clear decisions regarding which games may be legally defined as games of skill. The outcome of pending court decisions will have an important impact on this bill.

Additionally, the Nagaland bill seeks to allow locally-licensed operators to accept customers from all across India. This approach is similar to what Sikkim attempted to do when it passed its own online gambling legislation. Lawmakers in Sikkim later had to amend the bill in a way that resulted in keeping all online gaming activities restricted to state residents. Presumably, opponents could challenge the Nagaland bill on the same grounds that resulted in the Sikkim bill being amended.

Nagaland authorities issued the first licenses to online betting sites in 2016. Four websites offering backgammon, online poker and eventually other games of skill were the first to receive licenses. A fifth site received an online poker license in 2017.

The following websites are now formally licensed in Nagaland and may accept customers from all states that do not restrict games of skill as well as countries in which online betting is legal:

• Khelo365.com
• ClubEmpire.in
• PokerHigh.com
• PokaBunga.com
• PokerBaazi.com

Are there any consequences for betting online in India?

So far, it appears there are no legal risks for individual gamblers. There have not been any reported incidents of Indians being prosecuted for placing a bet of any type online. Although the government now has the power to inspect electronic payments at will, authorities seem to focus their intention on stopping payments to online gambling sites and prosecuting those who run gambling houses.

Deposits to and Withdrawals from Indian Betting Sites

The passage of legislation requiring payment processors to block transactions to betting sites has made it slightly more difficult for gamblers to make deposits and receive withdrawals. The good news is that these are only small road bumps.

You may find it difficult to deposit with certain credit or debit cards, but most of the world’s major e-wallet services work just fine in India. The government could always crack down on payment processing in the future, but no moves to do so have been noted to date.

If you have had trouble making a deposit with your bank account or credit card, here are two alternative methods that are highly likely to work for you:

Which Betting Sites Accept Indian Players?

Indians can deposit and play at most of the world’s big names in online gambling, but are generally best served at bookmakers that operate from the United Kingdom. The UK is home to numerous international gaming sites that are more than happy to accept customers from India.

Additionally, UK-headquartered betting sites tend to have a better understanding of the Indian market. They offer odds on cricket matches every day of the week, stream cricket matches online in real time and offer wagers on every other major sport in the world. These same bookmakers also come equipped with fully functional casinos, poker rooms and bingo games.

Future of Online Gambling in India

India is still a largely untapped online gambling market. Even so, citizens continue to wager in large numbers whether it is legally or illegally. The gambling market continues to grow year after year. At least one state has gone so far as to create a process by which online bookmakers could apply for licenses to operate legally from within India.

Anyone desiring the freedom to gamble online should be happy to see the efforts of many Indian states such as Sikkim and Goa. The head of the International Cricket Counsel recently came out in favour of online gaming and believes a regulated market would help keep money away from underground bookies that fund terrorism and drugs with the profits.

A legal market would be hugely beneficial in India as its 1.3 billion people would likely flock to a convenient, regulated online betting market. It would also provide large tax revenues for the government and put a major dent in the domestic black market for gambling. The central government appears to take a mostly anti-gambling stance, but individual states seem to lean more towards legalisation. We remain cautiously optimistic for the future of online gambling in India.

Country-wide legalisation is also looking like a stronger possibility with every passing month. Reports began circulating in mid-2017 that the Sports Ministry has already taken part in preliminary discussions for legalizing and regulating online sports betting.

Although nothing is set in stone at this early stage, the government appears quite friendly to the idea of legal online betting in India. Some in the government have also stated a desire to seek the assistance of regulators in the United Kingdom. This is especially promising because the UK is arguably the world’s best regulator and the world’s freest online gambling market.

Trusted And Reliable Casino Information For Indian Players

India is one of the most populated countries in the world with over 1.3 billion inhabitants. With such a dense population, it is no surprise that Legal Indian online casinos have become a highly trafficked market in the country.

Our website helps players in India access valuable information surrounding the nation's gambling industry, including its legal status, the types of casino games available to players, additional online casino features and more.

This guide provides a comprehensive wealth of information that is accurate and up to date. There is also a supplementary FAQ section with additional information about playing real money casino games on the Internet as well as information about other legal forms of online gambling available to Indian players.

Are Online Casinos Legal In India?

Yes and no. This question is somewhat complex given the standing federal laws—not to mention individual state laws. For a basic answer, Indian residents have numerous options for online casino gambling via Indian-based and licensed offshore online casinos.

The latter is probably the safer option and has more games and features available to players. Millions of local Indian players enjoy online gambling without fear of prosecution. You can find more detailed information on the laws in the next section.

Top Online Casinos Accepting Indian Players

Only The Most Trusted Legitimate Casinos Listed

Due to Indian gambling laws (detailed in the next section), most gambling is conducted through licensed offshore websites. Our team of online gambling experts has put together a list of the top-rated online casino sites accepting Indian residents. These offshore operators feature casino games, poker, and sports betting. Players have access to a wide game selection, bonus promotions, live betting capabilities and reliable customer support. We only recommend trusted online casinos that are legally licensed to accept Indian players.

Laws Applying To Online Gambling In India

In India, there are 3 major federal laws that loosely apply to online gambling. These laws include the Public Gambling Act of 1867, Prize Competition Act (1955) and the Information Technology Act of 2000. As you can probably tell, these laws are quite outdated.

It is a much-debated topic as to whether these laws can even enforce online gambling, as none of them specifically mention online gambling. Our team of online gambling experts has compiled explanations of each law below. Take a look for yourself on how these 3 laws apply to online casino gambling in India.

Public Gambling Act of 1867

It is interesting that law over 150 years old is still the legal precedent in a nation as large as India, especially given the advancements in technology. However, this is the case with the Public Gambling Act of 1867. This law made it illegal to host a gambling venue or to visit one. The vague language defines gaming as playing with dice, cards and other instruments of gaming. This, of course, applies to playing for any sort of wager or stake. Seeing as this law predates the Internet by over 100 years, it is no surprise that debate has sprung up regarding the applicability to online gambling.

An amendment in 1976 replaced the phrase “house, walled enclosure, room or place” with “house, room, tent, enclosure, space, vehicle, vessel or place”. A further debate arose on whether a website counts as a “vehicle, vessel or place”. The lack of a clear definition on gambling also blurs the reach of this law. The closest the law gets to a definition is by making a distinction between games of luck over games of skill, where the former game type is eligible for penalization under the law.

Prize Competition Act (1955)

The Prize Competition Act was passed in 1955 and serves as a specific type of gambling law—only pertaining to gaming in which a prize is awarded. The act bans competitions in which the prize exceeds 1,000 rupees a month. While some have attempted to apply this law to online gambling, the language of the original law defines a prize competition as a puzzle-based game in which the outcome is based upon the “building up, arrangement, combination or permutation of letters, words or figures”. This loose definition could technically be applied to slots, but again, there is no real enforcement of this law. It would take a more clear-cut definition to provide any sort of legal restriction on online gambling.

Information Technology Act of 2000

The Information Technology Act of 2000 is too broad to classify as an online gambling law, but it is mentioned here because some have attempted to do just that. While no specific mention of online gambling is ever made in the law, there is a portion of the language that some have tried sticking to online gambling.

The language has to do with sending messages through electronic means, specifically messaging with malicious intent. If anything, the law seems to apply more to cyberbullying, but anti-gambling advocates will try to make any loose wording apply. To our knowledge, no one has been tried under this law, or any other of the aforementioned laws.

State Laws

Legal Online Betting Sites In India

Individual states have the authority to regulate gambling in their own way. Goa and Sikkim are 2 examples of Indian states with brick-and-mortar casino venues. Most other states outlaw brick-and-mortar gambling, but do not have any laws against gambling with licensed offshore operators. While India legal horse betting is widely available, punters should consult Indian horse race betting laws as states differ in what they consider legal.

What To Make Of These Laws

Indian federal law is somewhat confusing and severely outdated. It is tough to apply any of the laws to online gambling because these laws were not written at the height of online gambling. As such, millions of Indian residents engage in some form of online gambling, most of which via legally sanctioned and regulated offshore brands. There is a wide array of online options available that feature casino games, poker, sports betting and more. Best of all, these sites can be accessed without fear of prosecution. We go into greater detail on our gambling laws in India page.

What Types Of Games Are Available For Real Money Play?

One of the benefits of online casinos is that they host a more varied selection of casino games. Our suggested online casino brands offer slots, video poker, blackjack, roulette and more. These games are built from reputable online gaming software platforms and feature high-quality 3D renderings and user-friendly gameplay. Responsive design technology is used to keep design and functionality consistent across mobile and web-based devices.

Slots

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Blackjack

Legal Online Blackjack In India - We have included a page to this guide that is dedicated to covering blackjack, one of the most popular casino games around the world. We provide insight into finding legal online blackjack games to play, information about how to play, and recommendations for the industry's top rated, legally sanctioned destinations that welcome Indian players.

Roulette

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Baccarat

Legal Online Baccarat In India - Playing baccarat online is a great environment for those new to the game as well as experienced players. Our guide provides information on how to play and where to find legally sanctioned online casinos that offer baccarat games and that accept players from India.

Pai Gow

Legal Online Pai Gow Games in India - This Asian inspired game is very popular among the Indian gambling community and draws a lot of players through the convenience of online access. Find out where you can legally play this game online and what kinds of bonus offers apply to Indian online Pai Gow games.

Real Live Dealer Games

Live Dealer Casinos In India - Live dealer games have revolutionized online gambling by combining the convenience of online access with the authenticity that a live dealer brings to casino games. Find out which games are available through legally sanctioned live dealer casinos that accept players from India.

FAQ's About Legal Casino Gambling For Players In India

Are There Satta Matka Games Available?

Satta Matka is an older form of Lottery-style gambling that was played from the 70s to the 90s. It is a game of chance consisting of randomly selecting a series of numbers and betting on the outcome. While the game is now illegal due to the enactment of the Central Lotteries Regulation Act, 1998, there are plenty of other Lottery style gambling options and games of chance available such as legal online Keno for India player.

How Do I Know If An Online Casino Is Legitimate?

The first thing to verify with an Indian-friendly online casino is whether they are legally licensed. All reputable online casino operators will have their licensing information readily available. For example, Bet365, a popular Indian-friendly online casino, is licensed by the UK Gaming Commission. If an online casino is legally licensed, Indian residents are legally allowed to gamble with them. Other signs of legitimacy include compliance certifications for fair gaming practices, a strong security profile, and reliable customer support.

What Kind Of Bonuses And Promotions Are Offered?

Perhaps the greatest advantage afforded to online casino users is their bonus incentive program. Bonuses are rewards given to players for using the site. The most common bonus type is a match bonus, where your deposits are matched by a percentage up to a certain amount. For example, you would see something like this: 200% match bonus up to $1,000 USD.

This means that the casino will match 200% of your deposit up to a maximum of $1000. Other casino-based bonuses give players free spins on slots, additional funds to be used in the casino and more. Bonuses are offered year-round and vary in terms of reward-size and frequency. There are also no-deposit bonuses that reward players without requiring a financial investment.

Do These Casinos Allow Indian Players To Gamble In (INR) Rupees?

Multiple online casinos accept INR (Indian rupees) as legal tender for online transactions. You can also play in USD and Euros at the vast majority of online gambling sites. We offer a list of Rupee online casinos here. You can find the current USD to Rupees conversion rates here.

What Are The Best Banking Options For Players In India?

eWallets, credit cards, debit card and cryptocurrencies make up some of the most popular India online casino banking methods for players from India. The Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) monitors non-INR transactions with online gambling sites, but cryptocurrencies are independent of any government or financial institution.

Are The Sites Mobile Friendly?

With the emergence of smartphone technology, India mobile casinos have begun popping up left and right. Our suggested online casino brands have mobile capabilities and will work across multiple devices (i.e. Apple, Android, Windows, etc.). Responsive design technology is implemented to maintain consistent design and functionality across varied screen-size dimensions.

It also helps with consistency across different leveled software packages. Most online casino operators offer mobile-exclusive bonuses to further incentivize the use of the mobile platform. These mobile suites are accessed via your device’s web browser and do not require any downloads.

Can I Participate In Legal Online Gambling In India?

Yes. Indian federal laws are too shaky to enforce, and none of them specifically mention online gambling. Indian residents are free to use online gambling sites, though should stick to legally sanctioned brands to avoid any foul play.

Do These Online Casinos Update Their Content?

Yes. Our recommended online casino brands frequently update their game selections to align with industry standards and heighten the user experience.

Are Online Casinos Fair?

All of the online casino brands we suggest incorporate RNG (Random Number Generator) technology into their software platforms. This technology uses algorithms to create randomized outcomes with all casino games, ensuring fairness throughout.

The technology is subject to frequent inspection from licensed RNG maintenance providers. To learn more about legal online casinos check out our guide to casino reviews for in-depth details about the casinos we recommend.

Legal Online Gambling Sites In India Right Now

What Other Forms Of Online Gambling Are Legal In India?

Legal Online Cricket Betting Sites In India

Gamblers in India also have access to legally sanctioned online poker sites and sportsbooks operating offshore. These types of gambling sites operate very similarly to India friendly online casinos in regards to legalities, deposit methods, bonuses, and the overall experience. If you want to learn more about other online gambling entertainment opportunities you can visit our guide to India legal online poker and our page covering India legal online sports betting.