By The legal position regarding gambling in India can be complex to understand. Different states have different regulations in place and the situation regarding online gambling is different from placing a wager in person.
For an in-depth look at the subject of the legality of online gambling, and a discussion about where to gamble, take a look at the site of gambling experts and casino reviewers Just Gamblers where it has been covered in detail. In the meantime, here is an overview of the position of online casinos right now and how it compares with gambling in India in general.
The legal position regarding gambling overall
The Public Gambling Act of 1867 makes it illegal for anyone in India to run a gambling house. Punishments for breaking this law include a ₹200 fine or three months in prison. The Act also makes it illegal to visit a gambling house in India although individual gamblers are not usually prosecuted.
It’s also worth noting that some states, Goa, Daman, and Sikkim, do permit gambling. Land-based casinos operate in these states and they are popular.
To complicate matters more, Indian law classifies games into those of skill and those of chance. It’s not illegal to gamble on games of skill such as the lottery, rummy, and wagering on a horse race. However, activities like playing poker for money and using slot machines are illegal in most Indian states.
The legal position of online casinos
The Information Technology Act 2000 regulates cyber activities but it does not make any reference to gambling or betting. Therefore, the courts in India have refused to examine the issue of online betting. The only states to officially prohibit online gambling are Maharashtra, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh. However, across most states, online casinos are not permitted to promote or accept gambling online.
The situation In Sikkim is slightly different. There is an online lottery that accepts entries from across India. It’s clear to see that the position regarding online betting and igaming is just as complex as for gambling overall.
Then, you have to add the involvement of offshore casinos to the mix. These casinos offer dedicated services to players in India. The only rule they are legally required to comply with is that they must offer players the opportunity to use rupees as a payment method.
What does the future hold for online gambling in India?
It remains to be seen whether any other Indian states will completely ban the use of online casinos no matter where they are based. Right now, it seems unlikely that this will happen. So, for the foreseeable future, Indians in most states will continue to be able to use the services of offshore casinos.
The number of these casinos providing a service in India continues to increase as they see the opportunities that millions of gambling enthusiasts represent. This is good news for Indians who have a growing number of reputable online casinos available to them.
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