Let’s get started with that –

Gambling or not, laws are ambiguous. Whatever country you’re looking into, it doesn’t matter.

Most of the time, things are going to be “dependent” or “ambiguous.” Neither black nor white can ever be true.

The same can be said for India’s gambling laws, as well.

In India’s case, outdated laws that don’t take into account technological advancements are a contributing factor.

For example, consider the Public Gambling Act of 1867.

Over the course of the last 150 years, this has been around. In spite of all this, the country continues to rely on this law.

The PGA does nothing more than make it illegal to run a gambling establishment. A fine of 100 and/or a one-month sentence in prison is a relatively light punishment.

The luck vs. skill debate is also brought up by this law. The government, on the other hand, doesn’t seem to see things that way when it comes to online gambling (such as poker and blackjack).

So, it’s safe to say that sports betting is at best a grey area and at worst illegal.

(However, an estimated $60 billion has flowed through the country, half of which is assumed to have been gambled illegally.) There have been no reported cases of online gambling-related fines or arrests in India, to our knowledge.

The good news is that India allows each state to set its own gambling rules.

Goa, Daman, and Sikkim all have gambling options that are legal. Between Goa and Sikkim, there are 12 brick-and-mortar casinos where you can place sports bets and play casino games alone.

However, only when you’re online.

It is possible to gamble online. It is illegal to engage in any activity that the government deems corruptible by its citizens under the Information Technology Act 2000. This is punishable by fines of up to 1,00,000 and/or imprisonment for up to five years.

However, it is possible.

Offshore betting sites and casinos allow Indians to bet on sporting events from the comfort of their homes. Bet365, 10CRIC, and Betway are just a few examples. All three are excellent betting sites, and all three accept Indian players.

Besides getting involved in payment processing, which we have already covered, or censoring what their citizens can do online, which it sounds like they’re doing or trying to do, there is little the Indian government can do.

That’s all there is to it.

In spite of this, there may be new hope in the near future. India’s law commission released a new report in July 2018 stating that:

As long as a complete ban on gambling isn’t possible, the only option left is effective regulation (page 115 9.8)

We can expect a great deal of wrangling between the politicians before anything gets done here. As much as possible, the opposition is prepared to exploit any hint of betting. Ravi Shankar Prasad’s most recent response (Aug 2018) appears to be, at best vague.

Experts and players alike believe that it will be years before it becomes a reality.

Here’s what you need to know:

Online gambling in India should be risk-free if you want to try it. Use a reputable betting site and keep your activity private from your friends and family. In any case, that’s what we suggest.