Is Online Casino in India Legal?

The reason why most people have apprehensions regarding gambling and casino in India is that nobody wants to violate any laws. Between the opinion of extremists to completely ban it in the country and optimists who want the activity to be regulated, the rules regarding casinos and gambling seem to be vague. If you ask, "Is casino in India legal?", The answer is not a simple yes or no. To understand this further, we are first going to take a look at what The Federal Gambling Law states.

There was a time when gambling was an unregulated activity. It resulted in people earning a massive fortune. But at the same time, the losses via gambling were too hard to handle and caused catastrophic consequences for some people. This forced the government to take some strict measures which resulted in the Public Gambling Act of 1867.

According to this act, being in charge of a casino or running a public gambling facility is strictly prohibited. An individual violating this law can be imprisoned for up to three months. The fine, in this case, is Rs. 200. Additionally, the law also prohibits individuals from visiting the facility. The fine for violating this is Rs. 100 and imprisonment for a month.

It’s quite obvious that this law is almost 150 years old. Even the fines are not that high by today's standard. Also, this law makes no mention of online gambling whatsoever.

The Public Gambling Act of 1867 was the first ever law that prohibited gambling in India. However, there is no mention of the online casino or any online gambling activity for that matter. This loophole is a ray of hope to millions of aspiring gambling as it indicates that online casinos are not illegal.

Since online gambling isn't prohibited, it is safe to say that online casinos are legal in India on a federal level. With the prevalence of the internet, the governing bodies could have amended the law, but they didn't. However, the central government left this decision to individual states.

Online gambling is regulated in the states of Goa and Sikkim. In Maharashtra, all kinds of gambling activities are illegal, including online. According to legal experts, there has been no record of any individual being prosecuted for gambling.

The law also states that no gambling operators are allowed to run gambling facilities in any Indian state or territory. However, this law can be disregarded due to the fact that most of the online bookmakers operate from outside India.

So in essence: the only state in India where online gambling is not legal is Maharashtra.

In 1996, the supreme court declared horse race betting legal and left other sports such as cricket and football out of the radar. The explanation they offered is that horse race betting is more of a skill based game rather than players having to rely on luck.

The reason behind the legalization of horse betting and making a distinction is most likely that horse breeding is a profitable industry in India. Legalizing rummy and horse race gambling displays obvious contradiction in the gambling laws of India.

Yes, it takes skill to analyze the outcome of a horse race, just as it takes skill to analyze the outcome of any event. So according to this logic, the government should step forward and legalize all kinds of gambling activities in India on a federal level, and not just horse racing. Give the Indian population a clear conscience and let us put our skills to use without having to be worried that we are committing some obscure crime.

By examining the gambling situation in India for many years, one thing is clear. The government is well aware that a majority of the Indian population is engaged in online gambling. If the authorities wanted to cease it altogether, they would have made strict laws regarding online gambling.

The heated debate regarding the legalization of casinos in India is ongoing. The authorities seem to have different views on the subject. Some say that completely prohibiting betting and gambling is a wise move. On the other hand, some suggest that people are not going to stop betting online regardless of what the law says.

Legalization and regulation is the only way gambling can be carried out in a safe fashion. It will help punters stay safe and bet according to their financial situation, and the government will earn lots of tax revenue.

While the Indian gambling market is still unregulated, it is very important that you do your due diligence when choosing which online casino to go with. This is where Mybetting comes into the picture. We were created to make gambling and betting easier and safer for Indian players.

There are thousands of casinos out there on the internet and choosing among them can turn out to be a daunting decision. Before jumping into the world of online gambling in India, there are a few factors to consider. On that note, let's take a look at how you can be safe and save yourself from the risks of a significant loss.

Gambling License

The first thing to check for when choosing an online casino is whether they have a license in some other jurisdiction around the world. A license from Malta, the UK or Curacao are all good and valid licenses for an online casino to hold. It requires them to live up to certain rules about fairness, payout and so forth. Licensed online casinos are motivated to follow regulations to avoid losing their license.

Security

After the license, there are other security aspects you need to take into account when using an online casino site. For instance, the online casino you are signing up for must include an SSL certificate and proper encryption. You are going to enter your financial and personal information on the casino site, and before doing so, you should be absolutely sure that it is in safe hands.

If the betting site lacks necessary encryption and an SSL certificate, it is not safe to use as all your sensitive information is under threat. Regular audits also enhance the trustworthiness of an online bookmaker as it ensures that the odds are random and fair.

Deposit and Withdrawal Methods

A good online casino will offer a hassle-free deposit method and a straightforward withdrawal process for taking home the profits you’ve earned. Online casinos with complicated withdrawal policies should be avoided by players. We do not recommend any such online casinos here on Mybetting.

Also, check the payment methods offered by the online casino. Make sure that you will be able to deposit money into the casino. Lastly, check the accepted currencies. All casinos that we recommend will accept deposits in Indian rupees.

Customer Support

Not everyone is a pro when it comes to gambling. Most players who are just starting out, are going to need the occasional support in setting up an account placing their first few bets. Make sure the bookmaker you are registering with offers 24/7 customer support.

Moreover, an unexpected technical hitch while making a transaction requires customer support. Constant availability of efficient support staff is one of the best traits of an excellent online casino. The response time from the customer care team is also an essential factor to consider. The shorter the response time, the better is the casino site.

Promotions and welcome bonuses

Before signing up for an online casino, make sure you check for welcome bonuses for new users and offers and promotions for existing players. For example, the best online casinos such as Royal Panda, LeoVegas, Dafabet, etc. offer lucrative welcome bonuses. These can be very helpful in the beginning and will help increase your profits drastically. Here on Mybetting, we make sure to always keep you updated with the best and most recent promotions from online casinos, so stay tuned!

Now that you know how to gamble legally in India and how to choose the best online casino, it's time to get cracking. Start by reading some of our reviews here on Mybetting, and let us help you find your next online casino!