Gambling in India – The Legal Status
In many countries around the world, gambling has become a major part of the economy. Although there are some critics that this industry is facing (like the people being prone to gambling addictions), there’s no doubt that the work of these facilities has certain pros. The gambling industry employs millions of people around the world, and pays much… Read More »
In many countries around the world, gambling has become a major part of the economy. Although there are some critics that this industry is facing (like the people being prone to gambling addictions), there’s no doubt that the work of these facilities has certain pros. The gambling industry employs millions of people around the world, and pays much more in taxes, thus being a major contributor in the global economy.
In the last few years, we even witnessed the rise of revolutionizing online casinos. They are available at any time and place, offer tons of rewards, etc. We wanted to dive a bit deeper into the legal status of both land-based casinos and online casinos in India and give you some of the details that you need to know. The law that covers this topic is a bit complicated so we’ll try to simplify it to the measure where the topic will be perfectly clear.
Online Gambling
Because online casinos had a massive breakthrough just a few years ago, their legal status falls under the grey area of many countries, India included. Formally, online gambling is forbidden, but the activity is very-well regulated, which is why Indian people are often visiting online casinos. It’s fair to mention that the people are so into this type of gaming, that India has become one of the most sought out markets for casino sites. Research has shown that people in India are mostly playing table games, which raises the question: can they be found online?
Table Games Can Be Found Online
The answer is yes. They are available and they are created by some of the best game providers in the world. Many players have stated that the experience while playing table games is extremely fun and unique. Table games are also highly rewarding, which is a reason plus as to why many people decide to play them.
So, in short, table games can be found online and if you are a fan of them, they are worth a try. You can access them from the comfort of your home or while traveling. Casino sites are open 24/7/365 and all you need to access them is a stable Internet connection.
Land-Based Gambling
Land-based gambling, or also known as traditional gambling is a whole different story. This type of gambling is forbidden in all of the provinces in India, except in Goa, Sikkim, and Daman. It is regulated by the Public Gambling Act of 1867.
The legal status has been under a lot of criticism by experts. They say that many people will take part in this activity, regardless if it’s legal or not. The current status is what drives many syndicates to start money laundering businesses and other criminal activities as a cover-up. Experts also believe that by legalizing land-based casinos, the crime rate will go down, and the economy will receive a massive boost in taxes and employment.
Of course, countries that rely on tradition and culture (like India) will not accept a change like this without a discussion. In the last period, there have been some talks on this topic, but nothing specific. There’s no doubt that there will be some benefits to it, but it is very hard to predict what the future will hold. One thing we do know is that if India’s government fully legalizes online and land-based casinos, they will be among the few countries that are regulating both types of casino gaming.
That is a huge opportunity to attract new investments, employment, and tax money which will benefit the people a lot.