Legal Betting On International Sports In India

In recent years, sports betting has become very popular around the world, especially in India. However, the laws regarding sports betting in India can be quite confusing for many people. With many rules and different viewpoints, it’s important to fully understand the legality of sports betting before engaging in it. There are two ways to go about this — learn the basics and vitals aspects of Indian sports betting legislation, or take a shortcut and use 1xbet cricket betting site. Keep in mind, no matter which option you choose, the information below will be of great help.

The Legal Framework in India

India's laws on betting and gambling are mainly based on the Public Gambling Act of 1867, an old law that makes it illegal to run or manage a public gambling house. However, this law was created long before the Internet, leading to confusion about online betting. The issue is amplified further because gambling laws can also be decided by individual states, resulting in different rules across the country.

State Laws

Before you start betting on games and sports in India, it's important to know some betting laws. These laws clarify what is legal and illegal, helping you avoid any legal issues and enjoy your betting experience.

• The Public Gambling Act. As we mentioned earlier, betting and gambling in India are mainly controlled by the Public Gambling Act of 1867 at the national level. According to this act, most forms of gambling are illegal, except for games that require skill. The Supreme Court defines a game of skill as one where success is mainly based on skill rather than luck. Each state can also create its own specific laws. This leads to a complicated situation because what is legal in one state might be illegal in another.
• Indian Lottery Laws. In 1998, the Indian government introduced the Central Lotteries (Regulation) Act to manage government-run lotteries. The act gave states the power to run their own lotteries. As a result, many states banned lotteries, leaving only 13 where they are legal. Besides banning paper lotteries, many states also restrict online lottery participation. Some argue these laws are not strong enough, as lotteries in other countries follow their own regulations.

So, the central government has chosen not to create a federal law to either ban or legalize online betting. Instead, each state in India can decide its own rules regarding betting on online IPL betting apps and sites.

This means that every state has different laws on online betting - some are strict while others are more relaxed. Let's look at the laws in specific states.

• Andhra Pradesh: Most forms of gambling are banned. Only horse racing, select card games (like rummy), and state‑run lotteries are allowed. Online gambling and sports betting outside regulated horse racing are illegal.
• Arunachal Pradesh: Gambling is largely prohibited. The state allows a government‑run lottery, but no casinos or online gambling sites are legal, and sports betting is not permitted.
• Assam: Assam enforces very strict rules. All gambling—including online betting and sports wagering—is banned under state law. No casinos or lotteries are allowed.
• Bihar: Gambling in all forms is banned. There are no legal casinos, lotteries, online gambling, or sports betting permitted in Bihar.
• Chhattisgarh: Only limited gambling is allowed. Generally, only state‑run lotteries and horse racing (a game of skill) may operate. Online gambling and casinos remain banned.
• Goa: A well‑known gambling hub, Goa permits land‑based casinos in five‑star hotels and on offshore vessels under the Goa, Daman and Diu Public Gambling Act. Online gambling is officially allowed through licensed operators.
• Gujarat: Gujarat follows a strict prohibition policy. All forms of gambling—including online betting and sports wagering—are banned.
• Haryana: Gambling is mostly prohibited. Only horse racing and state‑run lotteries are allowed. Online gambling is not permitted.
• Himachal Pradesh: The state restricts gambling to very few forms. Only state lotteries and horse racing betting are legal, while online gambling and casinos are banned.
• Jharkhand: Gambling is largely banned except for a state‑run lottery. No land‑based casinos or online gambling options are legally available.
• Karnataka: Most gambling is banned. Horse racing is allowed with regulated betting. Online gambling and lottery operations are prohibited.
• Kerala: Kerala permits only the state lottery. No legal casinos, online gambling sites, or sports betting (other than horse racing) exist.
• Madhya Pradesh: Only a few exceptions are allowed. Land‑based casinos and online gambling are banned; only state‑run lotteries and regulated horse racing betting are legal.
• Maharashtra: Gambling is restricted to horse racing and state‑run lotteries. All other forms—including online gambling—are banned under state law.
• Manipur: Gambling is mostly prohibited. The state allows a government‑run lottery, but there are no legal casinos or online gambling sites, and sports betting is not permitted.
• Meghalaya: Gambling is largely banned. Only state‑run lotteries and regulated horse racing (a game of skill) are allowed. Online gambling remains illegal.
• Mizoram: Gambling is generally prohibited. Only a state‑run lottery is legal; casinos and online gambling are not allowed.
• Nagaland: Nagaland permits gambling only for games of skill. Under its specific law, licensed operators can offer online games of skill (e.g. poker, rummy) but land‑based casinos are not allowed.
• Odisha: Gambling is mostly banned. Only a state‑run lottery is permitted; there are no legal casinos, online gambling, or sports betting options.
• Punjab: Only the state lottery is legal. All other forms of gambling—including casinos and online gambling—are banned.
• Rajasthan: Rajasthan bans most gambling. Casinos and online betting are not permitted; only horse racing (a game of skill) is allowed, and lotteries are generally banned.
• Sikkim: Sikkim is one of the few states with a regulated framework. Both land‑based casinos (in five‑star hotels) and online gambling are legal with licenses. Sports betting is also permitted under strict rules and geo‑restrictions.
• Tamil Nadu: The state has taken a very strict stance. Only horse racing and a state‑run lottery are legal. Online gambling and casinos are banned, despite traditional games being popular.
• Telangana: Telangana bans nearly all gambling forms. Only horse racing is allowed, and both lotteries and online gambling are prohibited.
• Tripura: Gambling is largely prohibited. Only a state‑run lottery may be permitted, with no legal casinos or online gambling options.
• Uttar Pradesh: The state bans nearly all forms of gambling. Only regulated horse racing and state‑run lotteries are allowed; online gambling is illegal.
• Uttarakhand: Gambling is strictly controlled. Only state‑run lotteries are permitted; casinos, online gambling, and sports betting are banned.
• West Bengal: West Bengal is restrictive. While traditional casinos and online gambling are banned, some card games (like poker and rummy) are sometimes tolerated as games of skill. State lotteries are allowed, and horse racing betting is legal.

Conclusion

The legality of sports betting in India is a complicated and changing topic shaped by history, culture, and laws. Although the current legal system creates difficulties, there is increasing awareness of the need for changes to reflect today's gambling environment. As conversations and regulatory actions advance, it's important to think about different viewpoints and possible outcomes to make well-informed choices about the future of sports betting in India.