If you’re interested in gambling in India, there are only three regions in the country that allow legal casinos to operate within their territory. The most famous of these regions is Goa which is known for its “floating casinos” aboard the ships on the Mandovi River and then you have the state of Sikkim and the district of Daman.
India is a country with a population of more than 1.3 billion people and has a rich cultural history of gambling which is heavily associated with our festivals such as Deepavali and Holi. However, the laws regulating gambling are outdated and ambiguous, and most gamblers in India are turning to online casinos in India to experience the thrill of gambling in a regulated and legal manner.
The Legality of Online Casinos in India
Land-based casinos are allowed to operate in some states in the country as gambling is a state subject which means the states can formulate their own laws when it comes to gambling. For example, the Goa, Daman, and Diu Public Gambling Act, 1976 allows for casinos to be set up at four-star or five-star hotels and offshore vessels with prior notification to the government.
However, most states have not adopted such laws and gambling in these states largely remains unregulated and illegal. The FICCI estimates the unregulated betting market in India is worth INR 3,00,000 crores.
Keeping in view the potential of the betting market in India, a large number of online casinos have opened up for Indians so they can bet on their favorite matches and enjoy the thrill of casino games online without having to deal with markets that are unregulated and illegal.
Now you might be wondering – why are online casinos legal in India when land-based casinos are not?
The laws regulating online gambling in India have a loophole that allows licensed non-Indian companies (or offshore companies) to open their services to Indian players as long as they accept Indian Rupees for payments and deposits. This means it is completely legal for Indians to play on casinos like Betway, LeoVegas, and 10Cric as all of them are operated by licensed non-Indian companies.
Playing on online casinos in India
Today, there are a number of online casinos available for Indian players if you’re looking to go from playing in a physical casino to playing in an online one. Some of the best online casinos in India include Betway, LeoVegas, Royal Panda, 10Cric with many more other options available.
Not only are all of these online casinos completely legal, regulated, and transparent but they also provide exciting welcome bonuses and loyalty programs to regular players. A lot of these online casinos also come with live casino games where you can play against a real dealer using live streaming video which brings the full casino experience to your desktop, laptop, cellphone, or tablet.
As the Indian online gambling market keeps growing, making an account on these casinos is made simpler and most of them also make it really easy to deposit money and withdraw your winnings.
Not a long time ago, the only way to experience legal gambling in India was to visit Goa or Sikkim or Daman. Today, you don’t have to waste your money on that expensive plane ticket and gamble legally right from the comfort of your home!
