The Growing Popularity of Online Casinos in India Despite Legal Ambiguities

A common issue players who want to gamble online face is legal ambiguities. The laws surrounding gambling, both in person and online, vary greatly from country to country — but even within the same country, the picture can change drastically from state to state. Understandably, it can all be a bit confusing.

Despite gray areas and confusion, it hasn’t stopped the growth of users playing at online casinos in India. By 2029 the online gambling market in the country is expected to edge towards US$3.88bn (339.5 Indian Rupees) and embrace more than 12 million players.

So even though players may not be fully clued in about every rule and regulation surrounding online gambling in India, the demand is clearly there as the annual growth rate is projected to be around 8.5% through to 2027. But what exactly is helping fuel the popularity of this sector?

The Gray Areas for Players

Many of the legal ambiguities in India are related to the player’s location. Although no laws at the federal level ban online gambling, some states have taken direct measures to address and self-govern the situation.

Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, for example, have moved to prohibit all online gambling, including sports betting and games of chance. Those casino games of chance are the main topic of most state-level anti-gambling laws.

But again, some states permit it, while some limit the legality to certain games like blackjack and roulette. Some states have different classifications for games of skill and games of chance, which also impact their legality. Poker, for example, is classed as a game of chance in some states and a skill-based game in others.

This lack of uniformity is the confusing part of the online gambling picture in India. It’s vastly different from somewhere like the UK, for example, which permits all forms of online gambling regardless of what it is and where within its borders the player is.

Players Find Solutions

Even in states where legislation is more prohibitive towards online gambling products and doesn’t offer licensing for Indian operators, players continue playing. There is such a gray area over online gambling in most countries around the world, and this isn’t an India-specific problem.

For people who find themselves restricted, there is always the option of off-shore online casinos accepting them. Off-shore casinos are operators that hold an official gambling license outside India, but if they accept international players, then players from India can access gambling options.

For the most part, off-shore casinos are viable platforms — and because there is little that can be done to enforce jurisdictional regulations on individuals, it is something that commonly happens.

An Overview of Online Gambling in India

Even when investigating the ins and outs of gambling laws in India, things can still look a bit confusing. Naturally, players just want to register on a platform and get into gaming without any hassles. There is further information about online casinos available on AskGamblers, which is a leading resource for reviews of remote gambling sites.

The site provides a deep analysis of online casinos available to players in India, delivering links to safe, trusted platforms. Helpful ranking of sites by experts about important areas such as payment options, customer support, and game variety serves as a useful tool for anyone undecided about which online casinos are safe and relevant for their particular experience.

Money Out

Where the system falls down, however, and where lack of clear, uniformity in regulations misses the mark, is that it does nothing to bolster the revenue collected from gambling taxes within India.

Players sending transactions to off-shore platforms means any potential revenue stays outside the country. That’s a vastly different picture to millions of people playing at India-based legal online casinos, where taxation can provide a major boost to finances, as well as growth in the job sector.

The Risk of Unclear Regulation

There are rogue, sketchy unlicensed casino sites out there, and this is one of the risks gamblers from India may face by going to foreign platforms. Playing at unlicenced casinos offers no player protection over their money or any unfair treatment. If such a casino refuses to pay out, there’s nothing the player can do about it.

This can put players in an unfavorable spot. Even at licensed offshore casino sites, there is unlikely to be the kind of protection that would come from playing at an India-based operator. It’s an area of concern for players — and perhaps one where they will feel let down by restrictive domestic regulation.

How Big Is India’s Online Gambling Industry?

Gambling was introduced by the British in the 18th century. Today’s online gambling market in the country generates good money, and in 2023, it was worth almost 4.5 million USD. That number is expected to more than double by 2030, and it’s reported that around 85% of people in the country participate in some form of gambling.

So the outlook is very good, and the biggest area of growth is currently sports betting. Still, the annual revenue from casino games within the country is around $40 million per year, projected to be above $70 million per year by 2027.

Further Driving Forces

A further driving force behind the positive numbers, despite the restrictions that many people in the country face, is the number of mobile devices in people’s hands, as these are particularly appealing to younger bettors to access gambling sites.

The sheer variety of gaming options, from classic slots to Teen Patti, crash games, game shows, and live dealer table games, is another big factor — there is invariably something within it all that will appeal to anyone looking for online gambling opportunities.

Advertising is another important part of the growth of the online gambling scene. This increasing prominence of advertising, especially targeted to mobile users, is another reason why gambling is still hugely popular within the country. Advertising carries a lot of influence, especially when it pushes big promotional offers like welcome bonuses that incentivize new players.

In Conclusion

The online gambling scene in India is far from straightforward for players — the best advice is to use online review sites and actual user reviews to select the best of the licensed and regulated sites that are available. But one thing is clear: despite some prohibitive regulations, players are still able to get what they want, and the demand is there, which can help fuel further growth.

Author Profile

Adam Regan

Deputy Editor

Features and account management. 3 years media experience. Previously covered features for online and print editions.

Email Adam@MarkMeets.com