Online Gambling in India: Laws and Regulations
India has a large young population that enjoys gambling. Sports betting is one of the popular entertainment options in India. People love to bet on the most popular sports such as cricket and horse racing. Casio games are also enjoying immense popularity, so the industry has experienced massive growth. However, there are many issues and concerns when it… Read More »
India has a large young population that enjoys gambling. Sports betting is one of the popular entertainment options in India. People love to bet on the most popular sports such as cricket and horse racing. Casio games are also enjoying immense popularity, so the industry has experienced massive growth. However, there are many issues and concerns when it comes to the legal aspects of the gambling industry.
How is gambling regulated?
We must not forget that gambling in India is strictly regulated by law. The law marks many activities as illegal, which makes it difficult for users to access their entertainment source. The biggest problem with the gambling laws is that they are outdated and not very clear about what they refer to. The legislative didn’t anticipate that the technologies will change the gambling world. Online gambling didn’t exist when the laws were made, so it isn’t clear if it is prohibited. You would find it very difficult to determine what is legal in India, and what isn’t. This issue has had many experts and industry professionals concerned. They debated the problem, but the answers aren’t clear yet.
Laws and legislation that cover the industry
When it comes to laws related to gambling, India faces a big problem. Right now, the only legislative that covers this specific industry is the Public Gaming Act of 1867. The fact that it is over 100 years old brings so many concerns. The outdated laws referred to the situation at that time, and it didn’t anticipate the changes in modern society. There have been amendments added, but they didn’t solve the issue of the outdated laws.
According to the Public Gaming Act, owning a venue where gambling happens is considered illegal. Also, it is illegal for people to visit such a place. However, there is no strict description of what is classified as gambling. You can’t tell if betting on s sports game is considered as an illegal activity.
How is online gambling regulated?
Online gambling isn’t clearly regulated by law. The act that regulated gambling is more than 100 years old. At that time, the internet didn’t exist, so it is impossible to anticipate the changes.
The Public Gaming Act and Information Technology Act regulate this area, but they don’t state that gambling online is illegal. Only two states are clear with the regulation. It is prohibited in Maharashtra. In Sikkim, you have the obligation to obtain a license from the government if you want to offer online gambling services.
To sum it up, online gambling isn’t clearly defined in India. You can play games here on this site for example and enjoy the entertainment, without any hesitation. For now, there has been no evidence of any Indian resident getting charged for using an online gambling site. While gambling isn’t fully described as legal, you won’t get in trouble. The only exception to this is the state Maharashtra, where online gambling is very strictly defined and prohibited.
How are different games regulated?
In India, gambling is defined as an activity where you face the risk of losing or win money. The act states that the laws don’t apply to skill games. For example, horse betting is legal on the state level in India. You are free to watch horse races and place a bet on the parlors that are available.
Lotteries are another form of gambling allowed in India. They aren’t a game of skills but are still approved. This proves the contradiction between the laws. There is a particular act that regulates lotteries, which states that the maximum of draws per week. However, you will find out that this isn’t enforced.