Without a doubt, many millions of religious cricket fans love to watch and play sports in India. But is cricket betting legal in India? That’s the main question that we will be answering in this article as we all know that sport gets so much more interesting when you place a bet, but at the same time, many countries have strict laws that prohibit any kind of sports betting. This is especially true ever since online technologies allowed people to use a computer or smartphone to make a bet online. As a result, we will also ask is cricket betting legal in India? and if so, which sites provide you a safe and easy way to do this? Hopefully, at the end of all of this, you will be given some helpful tips and tricks as to whether you can enjoy online betting in India legally or not. In fact, we go beyond cricket because if you are into online cricket betting, then you can also be interested in betting legally on football, horse racing, hockey or tennis, or other sports in India.
Is Cricket Betting Legal In India: FAQs
Is online betting legal in India?
Yes, online betting is legal in India, because there are no national laws that prevent Indians from engaging in online betting.
As a result of the Public Gambling Act of 1867, it is illegal to run a gambling house in India. Because of this it might be thought that betting on sport is illegal across the whole of India. However, it’s clear that certain states within the nation are exempt from this ruling.
In addition to this, the Indian law makes a clear distinction between games of skill which may be permitted on some occasions, and games of chance, which are largely illegal. This is further confused by the fact that there are certain lotteries and even horse racing betting events that are legally permitted in India, and as a result, there is no clear-cut answer to the question of is cricket betting legal in India?.
Despite this, it’s important to exercise a good degree of caution when it comes to making bets in this country. This is because you could get a fine of 200 Indian rupees or even some prison time if you were found to have broken the law on illegal gambling.
What online betting sites are legal in India?
Even though betting sites are not allowed to operate on Indian territory, All betting sites that are based outside of India can be used legally.
That is why we use international betting sites such as Betway and Bet365.
Even though sports betting is largely illegal across the whole of India, it’s important to remember that there is no law that actually makes online betting an illegal activity. So if you were asking is cricket betting in legal in India, then it seems that this legal loophole means that you might be able to enjoy an online sports bet without having to be worried about getting in trouble with the law. This is because many of the world’s best IPL bookmakers have realised this technicality, and also know that lots of Indian sports fans will be wondering is online betting in India is legal or not. Due to this fact, many of these betting sites are based in ‘off-shore’ locations which means that they can provide people in India a way to legally bet on sports without fearing the wrath of the authorities.
Because of this, online betting in India legally has become a real phenomenon over the past few years. Whilst there are laws like the Information Technology Act 2000 that prohibit any web technologies being used to corrupt people, it seems that using off-shore betting sites is largely overlooked by lawmakers.
Countries like the United States have implemented laws like the American Internet Gambling Prohibition Act that directly try to prevent people from betting on sports online. Thankfully, it looks like there aren’t any specific laws in India that prohibit you from placing bets on anything from cricket to horse racing in the online arena.
How do I legally deposit money to a betting site?
Whilst many sports fans use credit and debit cards like Visa and MasterCard to fund their sports bets, it should be noted that such payment methods can cause problems for Indian sports fans. As such, more people have started using e-wallets like Skrill and Neteller as they permit you an easy and safe way to fund your sports bets. So make sure that your chosen bookie includes these payment options in their features.
Where is betting legal in India?
As India is such a diverse nation, it should come as no surprise that there are some states that provide people a way to legally bet on sport. But where is betting legal in India?
Interestingly the north-eastern state of Sikkim has proven to be very willing to push the case for legal betting. This was seen when the state opened its first casino in 2009, and even developed a number of successful lotteries that provided people a way to win large amounts of money on what is ultimately a game of chance.
In addition to this, we have also seen places like Goa and Daman opening casinos like the Casino Deltin Royale and the Casino Pride 2.
So if you are still asking if betting is legal in India, then it’s clear that it is permitted in certain areas, and only for licensed lotteries and casino operations. But as cricket is undoubtedly the most popular sport in the nation, then there will still be many people asking if cricket betting is legal in India. Thankfully, it looks like the online expansion and tech safety has enabled sports fans a whole new way to wager on sports like cricket.
Which betting sites allow you to try betting in India legally?
We have hopefully outlined the fact that legal loopholes have meant that you should be able to bet on sports online without finding yourself in trouble with the law. So where is cricket betting legal in India? As the law still states that running a gambling house in India is illegal, it means that you won’t find any Indian sports betting sites.
But there are a good number of foreign betting sites that have attempted to cater to the growing numbers of sports fans who want to bet on cricket, hockey and much more in a safe and convenient manner. So now that we have answered your questions about is cricket betting legal in India, it’s time to take a look at which off-shore sports betting companies allow you to carry out this task.
The below examples are just a handful of top-class betting sites who have proven to be a big hit amongst Indian sports fans. Obviously, it pays to shop around so that you can find a bookmaker who meets your particular needs. But if you are looking for a good example of a safe and licensed betting site that provides you fair and competitive odds for a wide range of sports, some of the following bookmakers should be able to help you out.
BetWinner
If you are still worrying about whether online betting in India is legal or not, then you could take a trip to the BetWinner site.
The online bookmakers are based in Cyprus which means that they are exempt from the Indian gambling laws, and they are also licensed by the Government of Curacao which means that you should receive plenty of customer protection.
BetWinner provides a vast range of prematch and live bets for sports from all over the world. This can be seen in the huge array of betting markets that they include for the likes of the Indian Premier League.
In addition to this, BetWinner has also included trustworthy payment options like the Skrill and Neteller e-wallets so that you can safely fund your sports bets. Plus with an excellent welcome bonus that can double your initial betting funds on their site, it’s easy to see why BetWinner has become such a big hit amongst Indian sports fans.
1xBet
1xBet is another bookmaker who is based in Cyprus.
This means that you don’t have to worry about things like is cricket betting legal in India, as you can simply use a computer, smartphone, or tablet to load up this off-shore betting site and safely take bets on your favourite sport.
Like BetWinner, 1xBet provides you with excellent coverage of all top sports from around the world.
Their odds for the Indian Premier League are particularly impressive as they allow you to bet on things like how the next wicket falls, who will be the man of the match, and who will score the next century.
Plus 1xBet is more than capable of handling your personal details and deposits in a safe and satisfactory manner thanks to their license from the Government of Curacao.
Spin Palace Sports
Spin Palace Sports are based in the European country of Malta which means that you don’t have to worry about things like is cricket betting legal in India.
Whilst this site might be better known for its casino gaming options, by loading up the Spin Palace Sports website, you will find excellent coverage of all top sporting events.
They are fully licensed and regulated by the Malta Gaming Authority, they have 24/7 customer support, and they also facilitate a broad range of payment options that include e-wallets such as Skrill and Neteller. In addition to this, the Spin Palace Sports bonus is one of the biggest that we’ve come across, so be sure to sign up for this bookie and see what you can win.
What should you look for in an online betting site?
There is a vast range of online betting sites out there, and it can be tough to work out which online bookmakers can meet your needs and handle your sensitive information in a satisfactory manner.
So before you sign up to any online bookmaker, be sure to ask yourself the following questions down below:
1. What sports can you bet on?
There’s no point signing up to a bookie if they don’t feature odds for your favourite sport.
If you are asking is cricket betting legal in India?, then you can take comfort from the fact that most decent off-shore betting sites now cover all top cricket tournaments like the IPL.
But be sure to compare the odds from different bookmakers so that you know that you are getting the best value for your sports bets. Whilst most bookies provide prematch and live bets, it’s also worth checking to see how many different betting markets they include for your favourite sport.
2. Is the betting site fully licensed?
Never use a betting site that fails to display an online gambling license.
Licenses from organisations like the UK Gambling Commission, the Malta Gaming Authority and the Government of Curacao will show that the bookmaker has passed several tests regarding how they handle your personal data and deposits. If you see a betting site that doesn’t have any of these licenses, we would recommend that you do not sign up to them.
