What is the legal status of Online Casinos in India?
It's no news that there are a ton of online casinos in India that allows players from all around the country to participate in gaming. However, despite this, the legality of gambling in the country remains a little vague, as some believe it to be illegal, while others confidently play with the best online casinos in India For shorts, online casino India is legal, therefore, you are safe should you decide to play. However, there are a few gray areas that make people develop skeptical belief as per its legality.
The history of gambling in India
Before the famous ban, people gambled for hundreds of years in India, participating in all forms of local games as well as sports. From the little villages up to the palace, people played traditional games like Teen Patti and Andar Bahar, placing bets and earnings for the winners. During this time, there were no laws or regulations to guide or restrict the act.
However, after the British invaded India, successfully colonizing the whole Indian subcontinent, the British authorities imposed the first gambling law. This happened in the mid-1800s. The gambling law later became known as the Public Gambling Act of 1867 and was the first law to ban gambling and all forms of lotteries in India.
Since that time up until now, the government have done nothing to amend or change that law of 1867. Instead, they upheld it with an iron fist, keeping the law in effect around most of India, except for a few states that decided to draw up their own gambling regulations. By law, every state has the right to create its own rules regarding gambling.
How does that relate to the situation today?
Bring that to today, the act of 1867 outrightly banned physical gambling and casinos in the country but didn't take into account any form of online gambling. This is because online gambling was not a thing back then. It is as a result of this that there are online casinos accepting Indian players without repercussions.
Today, some of the best online casinos accept has their gate wide open for Indian players. Considering the whole situation, we can safely assume that online gambling is not illegal in India. If the authorities wanted it illegal, they would have amended the law to include online gambling, however, they didn't.
Today, some of the best online casinos have their gate wide-opened to Indian players. Considering the whole situation, we can safely assume that online gambling is not illegal in India. If the authorities wanted it illegal, they would have amended the law to include online gambling, however, they didn't.
An overview of the current legal state of online gambling in India
In recent times, the case of online gambling has been a growing concerning to the parliament. The issue has been tossed to and fro, with one side arguing to simply declare the best online casino sites in India legal with regulations, while others want it prohibited. At the moment, there is no conclusion or final say on the matter, as the government has not officially made any declarations.
Therefore, until there is an official statement on the matter, it is safe to say that the matter is going to stay gray. However, one thing remains certain: there are no specific laws in the country which the government can point to that prohibits online gambling. In the end, the matter is really down to each state to set their own laws and legislation which would guide their territory.
What does this imply?
It is in this light that the state of Maharashtra decided to prohibit all form of gambling both online and offline within the state. Overall, only a few states have even bothered to create any law concerning the matter. On the other hand, Sikkim and Goa have legalized gambling with certain regulations guide it. Therefore, there are physical casinos operating in those state, attracting gamblers from all around the country.
India has no clear federal law that prohibits online gambling or proclaiming it illegal, and until this changes, the whole situation remains gray. However, one thing is certain, which is the fact that online gambling is not illegal as far as the rules are concerned, except for states with their own rules. If you want to play in the best online casino in India, all you need to do is reside in a state where it is has not been prohibited.
Also, depending on your earnings, you may be responsible for paying taxes, or some casinos deduct the tax before making payments. Come to think of it, if the government collects taxes on winnings from an online casino, then isn't it logical that online gambling is legal? The government would not collect taxes from an illegal online casino in India, would it?
Best online casino sites in India
Another side to the legal situation of betting in India is the governmental law differentiating gaming in general. The law takes into account games of skill and games of change. With this, you can participate in gambling if you understand the rules properly. However, the safest bet is to use an international online casino.
This is because these best casino sites in India are based abroad, therefore do not logically fall under the Public Gaming Act. Many of these sites like betway.com even allow you to play in rupees and are the perfect answer to the question, "is online gambling legal in India?" Some of the best online casinos for Indian players are:
- Betway
- Purewin
- Casumo
- Casinodays
- 22bet
- Fun88
These sites are user intuitive and very easy to use, especially for new customers. Also, they offer a ton of bonuses on the first registration and deposits you make, as well as promos to keep you coming back for more. Payment channels is not a problem with these sites, as they offer a wide array of options including Visa, MasterCard, Skrill, Neteller, and more. Some even accept cryptocurrency payment too.
There is a myriad of games available in these online casinos, running into hundreds and thousands. Some sites even now allow you to join live game sessions for players who love the thrill that comes with gambling. In the end, it all boils down to what you prefer, as it is best you take a look around several online casinos before making a choice.
To test the waters, some platforms allow you to play for free with dummy coins while learning the ropes, when you believe you're ready to go, you can then make deposits and play with real money. Whatever works for you. You can also check review sites before committing.
