India
Since federal laws do not prohibit online sports betting or gambling in India, several sportsbooks have used the opportunity to offer sports betting apps in the country. Therefore, Indians have quite a good selection of mobile apps to place some sports wagers online.
🇮🇳 Legal sports betting apps in India:
Online sports betting in India - Legal almost nation-wide
The whole gambling industry has come a long way in India. Before the introduction of online sports betting, Indians could only enjoy in-person wagering on horse races and lottery games. Initially, horse racing was categorized as a skill game; hence, it was legal and regulated by state governments. After some time, the Indian government gradually began embracing the impact of sports betting, and they realized that the industry could raise revenues and contribute to the country's economic growth.
But even with all the embracing, the legality of sports gambling in the country is still debatable since the government has not yet implemented proper regulations. Therefore, the whole online sports betting market is in a sort of limbo. However, even though the ancient gambling laws in the country, such as the Public Gambling Act of 1867, declare almost all gambling illegal, these laws do not mention online wagering in any form.
Just to add some more confusion to the matter, different Indian states have their own sets of laws regarding gambling and betting. So, even though there are no federal laws to prohibit online gambling, some states, namely Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, have set up legislation to ban all online gambling from the locals.
But in a nutshell, even though the sports betting industry isn't yet adequately regulated in the country, there are many different online sportsbooks for Indians to choose from, just as long as you are not resident in a state that strictly prohibits such activity.
India's government has, however, taken some steps lately to improve the regulatory field of online gambling. In January 2023, the government introduced new regulations to govern online gambling, creating self-regulatory bodies to supervise the industry. However, despite this update, there's still a long way to go before India has clear-cut sports gambling legislation.
Sports betting legislation in India
| Is online sports betting legal in India? | Legal (restricted) |
| Is in-person sports betting legal? | No |
| Is daily fantasy sports legal? | Yes |
| Is horse racing betting legal? | Yes |
| Is political betting legal? | Yes |
| Is eSports betting legal? | Yes |
| How many legal sports betting apps are there in India? | 30+ |
| Legal age for sports betting in India? | 18+ (21+ for retail casinos in Goa) |
| India's tax rate for betting/gambling winnings | 30% (For winnings over ₹10,000) |
| Who regulates sports betting in India? | Each states' governments |
As the Indian government has not adopted any licensing system regarding the online sports betting sector, the sportsbooks can not physically operate within the country's borders. However, the current IND gambling legislation, apart from the states of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, doesn't prohibit offshore sportsbooks or gambling sites from accepting Indians as customers or Indians from placing wagers on such platforms.
Luckily for the Indians, multiple online sportsbooks operate with proper offshore licenses, such as those obtained from the Malta Gaming Authority or The Curaçao Gaming Control Board, which accept bets from India. As the current legislation doesn't restrict these offshore sportsbooks from offering specific betting markets, basically all forms of online sports betting are available for Indians, including eSports and fantasy sports.
Horse racing is also a major sport in India, and the first racecourse was established in the country all the way back in 1777. Therefore, it's no surprise that horse race betting is a very popular avenue of entertainment in India.
Recent updates from the Indian sports betting scene
May 26, 2024: Kolkata Knight Riders claims its third IPL championship title by beating Sunrisers Hyderabad in the 2024 Indian Premier League final by eight wickets. Mitchell Starc from Kolkata Knight Riders was selected as the player of the match, and his teammate, Sunil Narine, claimed the MVP honor for the third time in his career.
May 9, 2024: A crypto betting operator, Stake.com's hefty investments in the Indian sports betting market seem to be paying off big time, as the local bettors have reportedly wagered a total of $100 million on Indian Premier League alone on the Stake's sportsbook platform.
March 22, 2024: India's MIB Releases Advisory to Curb Online Betting Ads, citing concerns over potential negative impacts on consumers, especially the youth.
November 6, 2023: Indian authorities, through the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), issue blocking orders against 22 illegal betting apps and websites. While specific details are not fully disclosed, MeitY confirms the inclusion of Mahadev Book and Reddyannaprestopro among the platforms facing blocking orders.
October 27, 2023: Ritesh Kumar Singh, founder and CEO of Indonomics Consulting, warns of potential bankruptcies in India's betting and gambling sector due to increased taxes. He notes that companies in the sector have received notices for significant overdue amounts, with some being asked to pay ten times their annual revenue.
All legal gambling options in India
| Are online casinos legal in India? | Yes |
| Are retail casinos legal? | Yes |
| Are social casinos legal? | Yes |
| Is online poker legal? | Yes |
| Is the lottery legal? | Yes |
Even though the federal laws have not explicitly forbid online casino gambling, only a handful of Indian states, namely Goa, Daman, and Sikkim, have properly legalized such activity. However, thus far, there are no reports of Indian players having faced prosecution for online gambling. Having said this, if you want to play it safe, you should only access online casinos and other Internet gambling platforms from the aforementioned Indian states.
Earlier, Indian gambling law controlled all physical casinos that offered sports bets such as horse racing and lotteries. Today, land-based and online casinos operate legally under the Public Gambling Act of 1976 in Sikkim, Goa, Nagaland, and Daman, all of which have incorporated more games and modern gaming techniques into their systems.
Online poker is permitted in India, as it is viewed more as a game of skill, like sports betting, than a game of change. In addition to this, a total of 13 Indian states offer legal lottery.
Other gambling-related news & stories from India
July 9, 2024: With 10 million registered users and a Unity-based tech stack, Passion Gaming is set to scale further in the Indian market despite concerns over the 28% tax. Co-founders emphasized their commitment to sustainability and a vision for growth, aiming for 100 million users in the next three years.
March 25, 2024: The Indian government warns social media influencers and other celebrities not to promote illegal offshore gambling operators on social media, indicating such acts may cause "rigorous scrutiny" and penal actions.
January 15, 2024: Android allows real-money gaming (RMG) applications to appear on Google Play within three markets: India, Mexico, and Brazil. After the decision comes into force, the apps will start featuring on Google Play on June 30, 2024.
January 4, 2024: In Port Blair, the capital of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in India, authorities arrest five individuals in a significant raid targeting illegal gambling operations.
January 2, 2024: A recent study by Ken Research reveals that over 25% of online gamblers in India face significant challenges, such as identity theft and transaction issues. These difficulties include fraud, unauthorized transactions, and withdrawal complications attributed to India's diverse cultural and legal environment.
India - Some commonly asked questions (FAQ)
What is the legal status of sports betting in India in 2024?
Only two Indian states, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, prohibit all online gambling in 2024. As other parts of India still have limited gambling-related regulations, wagering on online sports betting apps and sites is perfectly legal.
How much money do Indian bettors spend on gambling yearly?
According to the Think Change Forum, Indians spend $100bn yearly on wagering at offshore betting apps and sites alone. When the legal operators are added to the mix, it's clear to see how lucrative the Indian gambling market truly is.
What sports do Indians bet on the most?
Cricket is the most followed and played sport in India; thus, it's also a popular wagering choice for all local bettors. Around $200M is wagered on each one-day international match alone, and over 80% of India's betting revenues come from this sport.
Who are the highest-earning sports stars in India?
Cricket is also the highest-paying sport in India, and all the richest Indian sports stars are cricketers. Sachin Tendulkar tops this list with around $165M net worth and $6M yearly endorsement earnings despite retiring in 2013.
