{"id":13500,"date":"2024-02-06T10:41:56","date_gmt":"2024-02-06T10:41:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.safebettingsites.com\/in\/?page_id=13500"},"modified":"2024-02-06T11:02:04","modified_gmt":"2024-02-06T11:02:04","slug":"is-online-betting-legal-in-india","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.safebettingsites.com\/in\/is-online-betting-legal-in-india\/","title":{"rendered":"Is Online Betting Legal in India?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Is online betting legal in India? Well, the answer is both yes and no. It\u2019s a convoluted matter and the legality of betting depends on what state or territory you are in. This is further complicated by most legislation not explicitly mentioning online gambling and ambiguity in what constitutes gambling.<\/p>\n

In this article, we will take a detailed look at past and current betting laws in India, legal betting sites in India, where you can gamble in the country, and more.<\/p>\n

Current Gambling Legislation in India 2024<\/h2>\n

\"FlagGambling is technically illegal in India under the Public Gaming Act of 1867 (PGA). However, since India gained independence, gambling legislation has been passed by local governments. This means that gambling laws will differ from state to state.<\/p>\n

Several states have adopted the PGA and made amendments to it while others have drawn up and passed their own gambling legislation.<\/p>\n

One important thing to note about the PGA is that it states that games of \u201cmere skill\u201d are exempt from the Act. This means that games of skill are legal in India but games of chance are illegal. However, what constitutes a game of skill is a contentious issue and it has been left up to the courts to determine on a case-by-case basis.<\/p>\n

In 1996, the Indian Supreme Court ruled in the case of State of Andhra Pradesh v K. Satyanarayana & Ors. and the State of Bombay v R.M.D. Chamarbaugwala\u00a0that although the game of Rummy has elements of luck, it is a game of mere skill. This means that it\u2019s not prohibited under the PGA.<\/p>\n

Horse racing was also ruled to be a game of skill by the Supreme Court in the case of K.R. Lakshmanan v. State of Tamil Nadu,1996<\/a>, and is specifically excluded from prohibition in many state gambling laws.<\/p>\n

As it stands, sports betting is considered a game of chance by the Indian Government and is prohibited across most of India. On the other hand, most state legislation and the central government legislation on gambling do not mention online betting apps<\/a> and sportsbooks specifically. Because of this, it\u2019s in somewhat of a legal limbo which is why it’s not possible to definitively answer \u201cIs online gambling legal in India?\u201d with a clear yes or no.<\/p>\n

There are a few states that have legal betting in India on games of chance, including sports betting, while some other states have definitively banned online sports betting specifically. However, at the federal level, there\u2019s no explicit ban on online betting but also no legislation legalizing it.<\/p>\n

Timeline of Betting Regulations in India<\/h2>\n

As previously mentioned, the answer to \u201cIs online gambling legal in India?\u201d depends on where you are as laws are mainly dealt with at the state level. However, the Central Government has passed multiple Acts relating to betting which we take a look at below.<\/p>\n

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