Gambling in India has become a highly popular activity and one that many Indians partake in when given the opportunity to do so. With many in the country avid sports fans and enthusiasts of online casino games, it is no surprise to learn that online casinos are legal within the country.
However, due to the popularity of these activities and the fact that many Indians are continually looking to find the latest no deposit bonuses on BettingGuide, there has been some concern about the current state of gambling within the nation which has meant that there has been some strong opposition to have started to be formed.
Strong history of gambling exists in India
There is a strong history of gambling in India that dates back to the 1800s, as this was when the British had effectively colonized the whole of the Indian subcontinent. There is evidence that there was British influence as the 1867 Public Gaming Act was the first law in India that came in force to explicitly outlaw the act of gambling.
However, despite the fact that over 150 years have since passed following the implementation of the act and the fact that India is now independent, there has been no change to the law. Although gambling is still prohibited in many states, there have not been many changes to the amendment in regard to the rise of online casinos, thus leaving many to assume that they remain legal and available to use.
Simply, if they were not meant to be used, it would not be wrong to assume that the government would have made changes to the laws by now.
Concerns about gambling in India
Although gambling within India has a strong and solid history that dates back hundreds of years, the Indian parliament have found that it has become a real issue that has started to split opinion. There are sections of parliament that have called for the total ban of gambling activities, whilst there is a section that have been advocating for gambling to remain legal, but at the same time be regulated; like it is in countries such as the United Kingdom.
It is hardly a surprise that there are two different sides of opposition to this issue, as the gambling scene within India is rather grey and unclear at the best of times. For example, there are no specific laws within the country that authorities are able to point to that explicitly outlaw the activity of gambling and wagering on online casino games and sporting events.
In fact, it could be argued that gambling online exists in the middle of being both, legal and illegal, as each local state authority in India has its own power to set its own legislation and regulatory measures regarding online gambling within their territory. This is something that other countries have in place, such as the United States of America and Canada.
Due to the complex nature of these rules, Indian bettors would be rather right to question whether they are legally permitted to be able to use an online casino depending on where they are situated. For instance, whilst only a few Indian states have passed legislation, Maharashtra is one such territory that has decided to make all kinds of gambling illegal within their state lines, prohibiting both online and offline gambling.
However, whilst Maharashtra have taken one extreme in regard to their approach to gambling, states such as Goa and Sikkim have decided to legalise the activity of gambling via means of a regulated approach. This means Indian citizens living in these areas are free to bet and place wagers on what they wish.
Using an international gambling site
Indian bettors that like to place bets whilst using an online casino may already be aware of this, but it is important to note that an international gambling site must be used, users often achieve this by using a VPN to pick a different geolocation.
Whilst betting in the country is grey and there is no real clear guidance on what the actual laws are, it is actually illegal for a gambling site to operate on an Indian territory. Nonetheless, with so many online casinos operating from overseas, there is plenty of options available to Indian bettors.
Conclusion
Of course, reading between the lines can be rather difficult for an Indian bettor looking to use an online casino as it appears different communities have different rules, laws and legislation that needs to be followed. However, perhaps an important thing that needs to be remembered is that there is no clear overall Indian law that permits or prohibits the act of gambling within the country, whether it be at an online casino or in a physical establishment.
With things incredibly grey and rather difficult to decipher, Indian bettors who wish to use an online casino are free to do so as long as they do not live in a territory that has already outlined that they have banned the activity from taking place, such as in Maharashtra.