Sports gambling, in the meaning of sports betting, is widespread in todays’ world. It has been progressing in the form of online sports gambling, enticing millions of punters over the globe. It’s been very comfortable to keep track of favorites sports events and place bets on them through mobile devices, especially after Covid-19. Like any other online sports betting website, https://gambling-offers.in/ is preferable for seasoned bettors to take advantage of betting opportunities and live broadcasting options to watch their favorites sports games. Such an approach has been the right one by keeping social distance within the coronavirus pandemic.
Eventually, Covid-19 has brought significant transformations in all aspects of human life, including his gambling story. It has affected the government’s mindset to re-examine the gambling status and provide specific regulations to promote it and gain taxes.
As well as loyal spectators, Indians are great fans of different sports events. Over 400 million people in India watch sports every year, and for some of them, it is a way to earn extra money. Even with the cause of Covid-19, Indians haven’t given up betting on sports through gambling sites. The issue of gambling legality is uncertain, though.
Sports Gambling: Legal or Illegal?
The matter of gambling has a relatively complicated nature in India. On the one hand, gambling is a widely spread activity and very close to the Indian religion. On the other hand, gambling regulation isn’t clear enough to understand if it is legal or not. Gambling is considered to be an offense that takes place in gaming houses in many states, and this causes concerns among Indian players.
Even at the period of Covid-19, most of the Indian population raised the question of whether gambling is regulated or legal within the country. But this doesn’t stop them from gambling employing online platforms as modern technologies have been advancing fast. Thus, nothing has practically changed due to the law established hundreds of years ago. Only some minor amendments were accounted for a few states (Sikkim and Goa) in India that have enacted their own regulations on gambling.
Indian Gambling Laws
The central government in India has given each state a right to articulate its own policies and laws related to sports gambling. Thereby, each state could legalize gambling activity if they want. When it comes to sports gambling, India operates due to such primary laws:
Public Gambling Act, 1867
Until the present day, the Public Gambling Act in 1867 is operating in India. Due to it, running the gambling house, assisting someone in running the gambling house, financing gambling, and visiting the gambling house is regarded as a crime. In case of violation, the penalty fine of 200 rupees or up to three months of imprisonment is levied. And there is nothing mentioned about online gambling.
When dealing with gambling within this law, it is necessary to note that Indian law categorizes games into two types:
- games of chance (frequently used as games of luck);
- games of skill!
The Supreme Court of India has legalized the latter as these games involve a person’s intellect and skills. Thus, The Act legalizes betting on the games of skill like Rummy and Horse racing. There is no specific law for cricket betting for Indians prohibiting them from wagering on their favorite sports.
Information Technology Act, 2000
This Act was set up to regulate cyber activities in India without mentioning gambling or betting. Thereby, it doesn’t cover online gambling platforms.
Only in Maharashtra’s state, online gambling and betting are considered an offense under the Bombay Wager Act.
The Indian laws are quite ambiguous when it comes to online gambling that is highly popular among Indians. Though online gambling is not illegal officially, Indian players can use online gambling platforms intended for the Indian audience by accepting rupees.
