Lotteries have been expressly excluded from the purview of the State Gaming Laws and are regulated by central laws and certain state-level lottery laws (collectively, “Lottery Laws”). Private lotteries, except those permitted under a duly granted licence by the state government, are banned under the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (“BNS”). The contents of the corresponding cell apply except the points on Nagaland and Rajasthan, which apply to online fantasy sports platforms only. On the other side, states like Arunachal Pradesh passed prohibition acts in 2012, while Andhra Pradesh and Telangana imposed strict bans on all online gambling in 2020.

Games of skill, where the outcome is based more on a player’s abilities than on luck, are generally legal. Popular examples include rummy, fantasy sports, and poker though not all states agree on this. On the other hand, games of pure chance like roulette, online slots, and dice games often fall under the definition of illegal gambling. In fantasy sports cases, courts like the Supreme Court and various High Courts have held that these games require analytical thinking and knowledge, qualifying them as games of skill. A significant distinction in Indian gambling law is between ‘games of skill’ and ‘games of chance’. Games that are predominantly based on skill are generally exempt from gambling prohibitions.

Gambling History and Future

In the absence of specific legislation addressing online gambling, the Information Technology Act of 2000 assumes significance in the context of online casino games. This act regulates various aspects of online activities, including electronic commerce and digital transactions. While land-based casinos are legal in states like Goa, Sikkim, and Daman, online casino gambling is prohibited across the country. The introduction of 2023 online gaming rules is a step toward regulation, but the overall situation remains unclear for most online gambling forms.

• This act regulates various aspects of online activities, including electronic commerce and digital transactions.
• Similarly, under the Nagaland Rules, there are certain social responsibility requirements that the operators must follow when offering games of skill in the state – for instance, games for stakes can only be played by those above the age of 18 years.
• Some states such as Madhya Pradesh and Bihar have completely banned all kinds of lotteries, while some other states have permitted only not-for-profit lotteries under a duly granted licence.
• The High Courts of Punjab & Haryana, Bombay and Rajasthan, in different cases, have upheld the status of the fantasy sports format offered by leading operator Dream11 (as per the charter of industry body Federation of Indian Fantasy Sports) as a game of skill.
• xii Under the New Act as well, casinos conducted over an online medium will invariably be subject to prohibitions on account of being considered an online money game, and accordingly the position on these games being generally prohibited may not be altered by the New Act.
• V. State of Tamil Nadu & Ors., where the Madras High Court once again upheld the constitutional validity of the TN Act and the TN Regulations.

Conversely, states like Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana have imposed blanket bans on online gambling, including games of skill when played for money. These bans have led to several court battles, with the gaming industry arguing for constitutional protections and classification under skill games. As India continues to grapple with the challenges and opportunities posed by online gambling, there is a pressing need for comprehensive regulation that balances consumer protection with economic considerations.

FIU-IND Reporting Requirements for Casinos and Gaming O…

These changes were introduced in 2023 to bring uniformity and increase transparency in the industry. The future of online gambling regulations in India is characterized by ongoing debates, legislative initiatives, and enforcement efforts. Clear and comprehensive regulation, coupled with effective enforcement mechanisms, can promote responsible gaming practices and support the growth of the industry. The legal ambiguity poses challenges for both players and operators, including uncertainty about the legality of participation, regulatory inconsistencies, and issues related to player protection and responsible jeetwin india gaming.

Is Online Gambling Legal in India? A Complete Legal Guide

While the Information Technology (IT) Act, 2000, doesn’t mention gambling explicitly, it becomes important in regulating online content. The Indian government uses Section 69A of the IT Act to block websites or apps that promote illegal betting or violate local laws. xv As mentioned above in endnote 4 above, online social games are exempted from any prohibitions under the New Act.

xiv      As mentioned above in endnote 3 above, fantasy sports conducted over an online medium (in the current structure of having a buy-in and users thereafter expecting monetary rewards based on their performance) run the risk of being construed as an online money game. In this regard, it is key to note that several sports betting platforms in India are structuring their services in a subscription/ad-based revenue model and removing requirements for a buy-in completely to avoid falling within the definition of an online money game. While there is no specific federal law addressing online gambling, certain states like Sikkim have legalized and regulated online gambling activities under state-specific legislation.

The rapid growth of the online gambling industry in India has prompted increased scrutiny from regulatory bodies. In November 2024, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) initiated an investigation into Google’s policies regarding real-money gaming apps. The probe was launched following a complaint that Google’s Play Store policies were discriminatory, allowing certain real-money games like fantasy sports and rummy while excluding others. This investigation underscores the ongoing challenges and debates surrounding the regulation of online gambling platforms in India. Indian courts and state governments distinguish between games of skill and games of chance.

Meanwhile, casino-style gambling and foreign betting platforms largely remain outside the scope of regulation or legality. Even if a platform is legal in your state, any income from online gambling is taxable under Indian law. Under the Income Tax Act, gambling winnings are taxed at a flat rate of 30%, with no deductions allowed. Licensed operators, particularly those operating in states with clear regulations like Sikkim, continue to offer online gambling services within the framework of state laws. Yes, there have been recent legislative initiatives and enforcement actions aimed at addressing online gambling in India. Some states have introduced bills to regulate online gambling, while law enforcement agencies have cracked down on illegal gambling operators.

Are Online Casino Games Legal In India

Under its Seventh Schedule, the Constitution grants each state (province) of the country the exclusive power to enact its own laws on “betting and gambling” for its own territory. The Public Gambling Act, 1867 (“Public Gambling Act”), a colonial-era statute still in force, has been adopted by several states including Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Punjab, with some states making their state amendments to it too. Other states have enacted their own pieces of legislation to regulate gaming/gambling activities within their territories under their State Gaming Laws. Most of these are broadly modelled on the Public Gambling Act, albeit with suitable modifications. Though there can be different formats in which bingo is played, each of these formats (whether played online or land-based) would fall either in the category of lotteries or games of chance.

Online Casinos in India: Legal Overview for 2026

• Sikkim was one of the first to regulate online betting under the Sikkim Online Gaming (Regulation) Act, 2008.
• Thus, even if the local authorities had no appetite for enforcement, such litigations force them to act.
• Under the Income Tax Act, gambling winnings are taxed at a flat rate of 30%, with no deductions allowed.

Several offshore gambling sites have been banned this way, but enforcement remains challenging. Many of these foreign-based apps continue to target Indian players using alternate domains or mirror sites. The lack of jurisdiction over international platforms makes regulation tougher, raising questions about user safety and legal accountability.

The term “person” has been defined under the ITA to include, inter alia, an individual, foreign company, etc. The states of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh in the recent past amended their respective State Gaming Laws by either diluting or removing the express exemption provided to skill games and imposed a blanket prohibition on all games played for stakes, including skill games and online games. Legal challenges to the amendments done to the Andhra Pradesh Gaming Act, 1974 (“Andhra Pradesh Act”)vii and the Telangana Gaming Act, 1974 (“Telangana Act”)viii are pending before the regional High Court and the Supreme Court, respectively.

Relevant Authorities and Legislation

Under this law, online gambling operators can obtain licenses to offer various games, including casino games, to players within the state. Separate to VDAs, digital currencies may also include currencies that are recognised by central banks and financial institutions of different countries that are considered legal tender. India has been in the process of introducing its own digital currency as well in the form of the Central Bank Digital Currency, which has been given the moniker of “Digital Rupee”. While certain State Gaming Laws/courts in certain states have specifically recognised poker as a game of skill, a few others have designated it as a “game of chance”. For instance, the West Bengal Gambling and Prize Competitions Act, 1957 specifically excludes poker from the definition of “gaming or gambling”. Judicial pronouncements of the local High Court have also asserted that playing poker cannot attract penalisation or harassment by the police.