Gambling laws in India can be a very complex subject thanks to various rules and regulations across the country. Gambling has been a divisive hot topic in Indian parliament with arguments for further restrictions or a total ban on one side and arguments for relaxing of rules and legalization on the other.
Whilst a compromise is yet to be reached, Indian gambling laws remain unclear and oftentimes confusing to many Indian residents and wannabe-casino players. The following article will delve deeper into the legality and safety of online casinos in India.
Is Online Gambling in India Legal and Safe?
The simple answer is ‘yes, online casinos are legal in parts of India and those regulated casinos are safe.
There are no overt laws banning online gambling in India but the issue is more complex than that. Online gambling laws vary from state to state with each having its own legislation around the topic. The following section will outline where online casinos are legal in India.
Where Are Online Casinos Legal?
Certain states in the country have passed legislation for online gambling. Maharashtra, for example, outlaws all sorts of gambling within the state including online and brick-and-mortar establishments.
On the other end of the spectrum are Sikkim and Goa, each of which has passed legislation to legalise regulated gambling. Each state has examples of brick-and-mortar casinos that bring in punters from across India.
As for online gambling, India will need to bring in clear laws which rule one way or another. In the meantime, Indian bettors and online casino players remain in a grey area where they are perfectly within their rights to play on foreign platforms.
Best Online Gambling Sites of India
If you’re keen to start online gambling in India then you needn’t worry about being on the wrong side of the law provided your state allows it. There are loads of top-quality online casino platforms specially designed to accommodate Indian players. These are regulated and safe and offer Indian rupees as a currency to tailor to Indian citizens.
One important consideration when searching for online casinos is to make sure they are regulated by a trustworthy and reliable body. The United Kingdom Gambling Commission and the Malta Gaming Authority are two particularly reputable bodies that you can trust to only approve safe and top-quality online casinos.
Another consideration is the payment methods provided by the operator, Make sure beforehand that your preferred payment method (and currency) is included in the operator’s available payment methods. Many online casinos now offer cryptocurrency as a viable payment option so if this is something that appeals to you, there are plenty of options out there.
Finally (but still very importantly), compare the games and sign-up offers provided by each platform. These will vary and some might be better suited to your preferences than others. VIP schemes that reward regular play and loyalty are also another incentive to keep an eye out for when picking your online casino.
