The sports betting market in India is estimated to be worth US $2.19 billion in 2025, and growing at an annual rate of 5.2% per annum.. Cricket, the national and most popular sport, will attract the lion’s share of this money. However, betting on sports falls into a grey area legally, with the prevailing legislation dating back to the 19th century, when India was still under British colonial rule.
This means that those willing to bet on cricket in India must be aware of their legal position so they do not find themselves in conflict with the authorities. This article seeks to clarify whether cricket betting is legal in India.
Is Online Cricket Betting Legal in India?
Hate to say this to you but there is no definitive answer to the question, “Is Cricket Betting Legal in India?” And we are gonna explain it to you why.
The 1867 Public Gambling Act
The prevailing legislation remains the 1867 Public Gambling Act, enacted when India was still under British colonial rule. This specifically prohibited people from owning, visiting or being in charge of a gambling house. However, its provisions did not anticipate the Internet age and the rise of online betting.
Because India is a Federal country, many laws are set at the State level. That means that, while the 1867 Act remains a bedrock, individual states are entitled to formulate their own gambling laws. As a result, while some States like Goa have been liberal in allowing licensed gambling within their boundaries, others like Maharashtra remain firmly opposed to it.
One key distinction is between games of chance and games of skill. Indian courts have ruled that betting on games that involve a high degree of skill, such as horse racing or poker, is legal. However, they are considerably less lenient when it comes to games in which they consider the outcome pure chance.
An example of this being applied in practice is Fantasy Sports, which involve participants competing against each other in virtual teams composed of real-life players. A number of Indian court rulings have upheld the status of fantasy sports, deeming these games of skill rather than chance. But again, the application of laws varies at State level.
State-Specific Online Gambling Laws
India is currently composed of 28 States and 9 Union territories, each of which has considerable autonomy in drafting gambling legislation. As a result, local authorities have adopted different approaches in this area.
Sikkim has arguably been the most enlightened State regarding online betting. The Sikkim Online Gambling Act of 2008 legalised and regulated gaming within its borders, and it issued licences to operators to run online games like blackjack, roulette, and poker. However, these are only available to local residents.
Goa is regarded as similarly liberal, and its laws allow for creating and running land-based casinos. Once again, though, the legislation does not specifically address sports betting.
West Bengal is also a haven for online gamblers because it has legalised online lotteries and horse race betting.
Tamil Nadu is the best example of where the legal stance has fluctuated recently. Following a spike in gambling, particularly for online rummy during the COVID-19 pandemic, the government there sought to curb that with a law that banned all forms of online gambling, including rummy, even though that had previously been regarded as a game of skill.
In turn, however, that law has been subject to numerous legal challenges, and a 2021 ruling by the Madras High Court affirmed that rummy was a game of skill. Undeterred, however, the state government is considering further regulatory measures.
By contrast, there are some parts of India where gambling is explicitly restricted.
Maharashtra has some of the strictest anti-gambling laws in India. It adopted the 1887 Bombay Wager Act, which outlawed all forms of gambling and betting. In 2013, the State ruled that the legislation applies to online platforms.
Players found guilty of online gambling there face fines or even imprisonment.
Telangana and Andhra Pradesh have similarly adopted a hardline approach. In 2017, an amendment to the Telangana Gaming Act was passed, which specifically made all forms of online gambling illegal, even games of skill. Three years later, Andhra Pradesh followed suit, and players caught there now face similar punishments.
Due to this legislation, online gambling and sports betting platforms have ceased offering services to residents based in these States.
Legal Forms of Betting in India
Historically, forms of betting involving skill games have been regarded as legal. For example, horse racing falls within this definition in some states like Goa and Tamil Nadu, as does online card games like rummy or poker. That is opposed to a game of chance, which remains illegal.
However, the different States have taken a different view of interpreting this.
State-run lotteries
The central law regulating lotteries in India is the Lotteries (Regulation) Act of 1998. This outlines the basic operation of their framework but allows individual states considerable leeway in how they administer them. In practice, only 13 states currently run lotteries; states like Gujarat and Bihar have opted to ban them completely. Privately run lotteries are not permitted anywhere in India.
Maharashtra is perhaps a clear illustration of the ambiguity surrounding gambling in India. Whilst the State is one of the toughest when it comes to banning all forms of sports betting, it does run several successful lotteries, the proceeds of which are used to fund public welfare programmes.
That is, even though it would be hard to argue that a lottery draw is anything other than a game of chance.
The Role of Offshore Betting Sites
As the Indian economy continues to grow, people have more disposable income and an increasing number choose to spend some of that money betting on their favourite sports. The growth in the smartphone market, better internet coverage and the growth in sporting events have also brought offshore betting sites within the reach of potentially hundreds of millions of people.
At the same time, the confusing legal situation in India and the wish to escape unwanted government intrusion into private lives make offshore betting sites more attractive for some.
There are risks associated with this. In the first place, while there are a number of reputable sites, the online betting industry has something of the “Wild West” about it, full of cowboys who are ready to take people’s money before promptly disappearing without a trace.
And those who are residents in States where online gambling is expressly prohibited are committing criminal offences and could potentially face fines or even imprisonment.
Identifying Reputable Betting Platforms
Although many betting platforms are available, choosing a reputable one that is appropriately licensed and regulated is important. This ensures that the site will be subject to external inspection and regulation, that its owners are above board and suspicion, and that its operation is in line with best practice. In the UK for example, all betting operators are subject to the oversight of the Gambling Commission.
In addition, it is important to ensure that the platform offers SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) protection. This encryption method ensures that data is protected securely from a user to an operator.
The importance of licencing
Licensing is important because it signals that the site must adhere to the territory’s legislative requirements and will be subject to regular external inspections and audits. There is also a tier of licensing, with regimes like the UK and Ireland considered the most stringent, followed by jurisdictions like Malta. Whilst it is common to see some platforms licensed by offshore jurisdictions in territories like Curaçao, these should generally be avoided where possible.
Secure payment methods and potential risks
Depending on the platform, various payment methods might be available. Almost all offer bank transfers and credit and debit card payments; others provide other payment methods such as PayPal, Payoneer, and MoneyGram. Some even allow payment via Digital currency, although local restrictions on owning and accounting for digital assets should be observed.
It is important that the platform allows payments and withdrawals to be made in local currency; otherwise, transaction and conversion fees could apply. Read carefully the terms and conditions to understand how the operator safeguards funds and that withdrawal terms are not unduly onerous.
How to protect personal financial information
No personal data should ever be shared with any external party unless it has been determined that they are a bona fide operator and above board, and unless it is clearly understood how the data will be used. To ensure that the operator is using proper data encryption and security methods, ensure that their website has an SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificate.
As a matter of principle, avoid any website that asks permission to share personal data with third parties—such as online marketers.
Responsible Gambling Practices
Gambling should be regarded as a fun activity that enhances the pleasure associated with following a sport like cricket. It should not be considered a way of making money because statistically, the house—the betting platform—always wins because the odds are tilted in their favour.
People can and do win big bets. However, the operators are keen to promote such cases when they happen because of their comparative rarity. For the regular punter, they should expect a series of regular losses punctuated by the odd win.
That means that people should never bet more than they can afford to lose. Those who have problems with self-control may need to consider carefully if they want to start cricket betting in the first place. If they do proceed, they need to limit how much they are prepared to lose each day, and when they have reached that point, they must stop. Do not chase losses, believing one big win can set their finances right again.
Unfortunately, there is a growing number of people who have become addicted to gambling, and, in the process, they have damaged not only their physical, mental and financial health but also those who are close to them.
Fortunately, a range of options is available to those who find themselves in such a situation.
Responsible gambling resources
There are several confidential helplines that people can use for advice if they believe that they have a problem with gambling. These are free and confidential.
Suggested resources include:
Tele MANAS – an Indian government initiative that provides 24/7 support.
Samaritans Mumbai – a resource for anybody feeling stressed, depressed or suicidal.
Snehi Helpline: Snehi works with people to promote mental health and well-being.
It should be noted that although the number of people struggling with a gambling addiction has grown in line with the expansion of the sports betting industry, it still has not received the attention it deserves from Indian policymakers and public health experts in the country.
There are also organisations like Gamblers Anonymous, which has branches in India and is not allied to any government or sector; the only qualification for membership is a desire to stop gambling.
Tax implications of the betting win
Although there are no specific tax laws covering sports betting wins, there is a clear analogy with winnings from online casinos. The current tax legislation states that any winnings from lotteries, game shows, or betting are taxed at a flat rate of 30%, and there is no minimum limit or allowable deductions either.
Conclusion
Cricket and sports betting in general in India currently fall into a grey area as far as the law is concerned. The prevailing legislation dates back more than 150 years before the advent of internet-enabled online betting. The Indian courts have established a distinction between games of skill, such as horse racing, which are legal, and games of chance, which are not.
However, with the country employing a federal system of government, it has been left to individual states to enact their own laws, which has led to even more complexity. Whilst some States like Goa and Sikkim have embraced legalised gambling, others like Maharashtra, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh have taken a much more hardline approach in their opposition to it. Players found guilty of online gambling there face fines and even punishment.
Consequently, those wondering whether cricket betting in India is legal must ask themselves where they are located. For a resident of Goa, there should be no problems, but for those located in Maharashtra, it should be considered strictly taboo.
But as a further illustration of the ambiguity, somebody from Goa who travels to Maharashtra on business or holiday must make sure they do not fall foul of local laws, and somebody making the return journey would find themselves free to do something that would normally be prohibited for them.
Online betting apps are similarly in an ambiguous position. Downloading one and installing it on a smartphone would not be a criminal offence in a State like Andhra Pradesh, but subsequently using it would be.
Setting aside the complex legalities, it should always be remembered that those betting on sports or any other forms of activity have a duty to act responsibly, not only for themselves but also for the other people in their lives, like family members, friends, and work colleagues. Sports betting should be fun and never regarded primarily as a way of making money. If it stops being enjoyable or more money is being lost than can be afforded, just stop.
FAQs: Cricket Betting Laws in India
1. Are online cricket betting apps legal in India?
No specific legislation either allows or prohibits online betting apps in India. Although the 1867 Public Gambling Act remains the prevailing law banning all forms of gambling in the country, it does not cover online betting.
It is further complicated by the fact that while betting is legal in some states, it is not in others. So, in theory, while somebody would not be prosecuted for having an app on their phone in one of these states, they could be if they subsequently used it. However, this has yet to be tested by case law.
2. Which Indian states have legalised online cricket betting?
Few States have specifically legalised online cricket betting.
Goa and Sikkim are considered the most progressive states regarding betting legislation, with Nagaland and Meghalaya not far behind. Betting firms with appropriate licences can legitimately offer online betting to Indian players. In most other states, however, the position is less clear.
Maharashtra, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, for example, have some of the strictest gambling laws in the country, and betting on sports is strictly prohibited there.
3. What are the risks of using offshore betting websites?
The risks of using an offshore betting website, especially in an unlicensed jurisdiction, are that an unscrupulous operator can take money from a punter and never see it again. They can also compromise personal data and, even if the site is legitimate, delay excessively any payout of winnings. There is also a legal risk if somebody is a resident of a State that bans the activity.
4. How can I tell if a cricket betting site is legitimate?
The first thing anybody should do is check if it has a licence and who issued it. They should also read the terms and conditions, especially payment and withdrawal methods, and ensure there are no undue restrictions. Researching how the site collects and protects personal data is also important.
Online reviews are also worth checking out for adverse user comments or experiences.
5. Are there any changes to gambling laws expected shortly?
Steps are being taken to bring the 1867 Act up to date, with key stakeholders, including the central and State governments, industry experts, and regulars, all involved in helping to draft legislation. Among the provisions expected are mandatory licensing and regulation of gambling platforms, strict enforcement of age limits for players, and improved customer protection measures, such as more secure payment methods and adherence to fair play standards.
There is also an economic imperative involved. India is potentially losing a vast amount of money that it could collect from tax on online gambling if it had an appropriate regulatory framework.
Proponents of the new legislation argue that it will benefit Indian gamblers by allowing them to access a variety of betting options in a safe and regulated environment.
