Online Gambling in India in 2023

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The above list is based on strict criteria we use to judge a casino’s safety, integrity, and customer protection policies. This includes things like fair play guidelines, self-control tools, responsible gambling channels and licensing.

Just below, we go in-depth on these topics to learn what exactly makes a safe online gambling site in India.

As we said, multiple factors contribute to trust in an Indian online casino. When listing carefully selected and thoroughly reviewed brands, we take into consideration the following:

The license is the backbone, but regulation is an important key word here. Many casinos have a license, but how this license protects customers is the key question.

What are they fair play rules, do they protect player funds, do they enforce frequent audits on operators? These topics are crucial and ticked only by a handful of trusted licensing bodies.

The MGA and UKGC are the most respected licensors in the industry. The UKGC is strictly related to UK customers, but a casino which bears this license instills a lot of trust.  

However, most gambling sites in India are MGA-licensed. The MGA is an all-encompassing license for Europe and English-facing markets such as India, New Zealand and Canada.

There are licensing bodies which are good, but we rate as 2^nd grade licensors: Curacao and Kahnawake. These are not unsafe licensing bodies, but they are not as “hands-on” as the MGA. We recommend sites by 2^nd grade licensors, but only if they have an established ownership and trust.  

Reading the above, you may think a Curacao or Kahnawake licensed Indian gambling site is unsafe. That is not the case, as ownership and reputation play key roles as well. There are India-focused brands licensed by Curacao and Kahnawake, with decades of good standing in the industry.

This knowledge comes with experience, something our review team has in abundance. That’s why it’s best to rely on our recommendations to be your guiding hand.

These factors go hand in hand with licensing. It is often that the licensing body enforces fair play regulations on operators, to make sure players can feel safe and in control.

A complaints system is a must-have for all online gambling sites in India. Most casinos have one in place. Though, partnership with an independent dispute resolution body is important.

We make sure to list casino sites with a dedicated responsible gambling section which provides players with guidance on responsible gambling. It’s also important to have links to respected 3^rd party organizations that can help.

All of the above, players can find themselves. The casinos that stand provide self-control tools such as:

• Deposit Limits
• Wager Limits
• Loss Limits
• Session Limits
• Time-Outs
• Self-Exclusion

Having some, or all these tools at your disposal, will ensure total control over your spending. That’s our number one priority, as we’re aware that many players have issues with gambling on impulse.

If you’re a new to online gambling in India, you may ask yourself if its safe to make real money deposits. However, safety shouldn’t be a concern as long as you’re using trusted payment options. That’s why we select gambling sites in India that offer safe and common payment options.

Generally, you will have a choice between e-wallets, prepaid cards, debit cards and bank transfer. We go in-depth on this topic further down in this page.

Customer support is essential to having a good experience at online casinos in India. In fact, this is the first thing we test when reviewing a new casino site.

Having responsive and knowledgeable live chat support is the minimum we expect from a good online casino. Many sites offer live chat service 24/7, but this is not an indicator of quality. As long as the working hours are reasonable, we focus on the quality of service. 

This page is focused on trusted, safe online casinos where you can safely deposit & withdraw real money. However, if you are not looking for safe casino sites only, but the very best, we have a dedicated page to the best Indian casinos for real money. There, you can browse what we consider market leaders for the India online casino market.

The short answer is that online gambling is unregulated in India. Unfortunately, the legal landscape for online and land-based gambling in India is a complicated matter.

Note, we are speaking about online casinos within India. As we said, there are hundreds of casinos licensed outside India, that welcome Indian players. For these sites, there is no regulation. No part of Indian law states that it is illegal to play at these foreign casino sites.

Though, for the most part, it’s clear as day that gambling within India is not legal.

There are some exceptions. We’re talking about the States of Goa, Daman, Diu and Sikkim.

Only the State of Sikkim regulates online gambling.

However, all the aforementioned States of Goa, Sikkim, Daman and Diu have legalized land-based gambling. This means that there you can find land casinos with slots, table games, and all the usual bells and whistles that come with it.

India’s Public Gaming Act of 1876 is generally seen as the primary source for information on the legality of gambling in India. This enforces a blanket ban of games of luck. There are many disagreements over what constitutes a game of luck, but the key takeaway is the act doesn’t mention online gambling.

This act is from 1867, so its only natural online casinos aren’t included. Yet, no further amendments have been made to address online casinos or online sports betting.

That is why it’s generally understood that online gambling at foreign sites is not illegal. If these sites are off-shore licensed by the MGA, UKGC, Curacao or Kahnawake, you should be good to go. Our team cannot provide legal guarantees, but to the best of our knowledge, Indian individuals have not been legally prosecuted for participating in online gambling for real money.

Though, as we said, India lets States form individual regulations. That is why Sikkim regulates its own online gambling, and Goa, Daman and Diu are rife with land-based casinos.

These are the relevant acts per State that regulate its own forms of gambling:

• Sikkim (Online): Sikkim Online Gaming Act of 2008
• Sikkim (Land-Based) - Sikkim Casinos Act of 2002
• Goa, Daman, Diu: Goa, Daman, Diu Public Gaming Act of 1976

Gambling tax in India is governed by Section 115B of the Income Tax Act, brought to law in 1961.

This section states that all gambling winnings are considered taxable income. There are no exemptions in this tax law, meaning the tax rate is the same regardless of your income or net losses and profits.

The tax rate is flat at 30% of all winnings, including land casinos, sports betting, lotteries and online gambling. 

As states can almost freely craft individual gambling laws, there is room to grow with new regulation across the various Indian states. In the future, a more relaxed approach toward online gambling would be beneficial for players and the government alike.

In short, the governments can benefit from a regulated online gambling market through tax revenue. Whereas players can benefit from a local regulatory body that can even protect them in a court of law.

You will need to choose a suitable payment option before making a real money deposit. This process is simple and can take minutes.

1. Log-in to your online casino of choice
2. Open the cashier
3. Select your preferred deposit method
4. Enter your desired deposit amount
5. Follow any on-screen instructions
6. You can instantly play for real money.

Generally, you can choose between several payment method types:

E-wallets are the most popular because of ease-of-use, fast payouts and the fact no banks are involved.

The most common and safe e-wallets used at online casinos in India are MuchBetter, Skrill, ecoPayz and AstroPay. Neteller doesn’t see much use because it can’t be used for withdrawals.

Typically, players prefer e-wallets because of minimal fees, compatibility with various currencies and the fact e-wallets can be funded by almost any source. For instance, you can top-up your Skrill Wallet through a debit card and use Skrill to deposit to an online casino.

These methods are generally avoided by Indian casino players. Depositing from a debit card usually means you have to withdraw through it. That is because most online casinos enforce a closed-loop withdrawal policy. Meaning, they will send your payout to your deposit method.

Performing withdrawals through debit cards/banks is long. Typically, it can take anywhere between 3 to 10 days, including verification procedures. In contrast, e-wallet withdrawals often take up to 24 hours.

Nonetheless, you can use your VISA and MasterCard at any online casino. There is nothing stopping you if you don’t mind the longer payout times. These options are still one of the safest on the market. Plus, this way you eliminate fees by using an e-wallet as the “middle-man”.

Cryptocurrency is rising in popularity among online casinos.

The likes of Bitcoin, Ethereum, Bitcoin Cash, Litecoin and even fringe currencies like Dogecoin are available at many online casinos in India.

The main benefit of cryptos is 100% anonymity. This payment option also bears low fees and the fastest withdrawal times.

The main disadvantage is complexity. Setting up your crypto wallet is not as complex as it may seem. However, you also have to account for the fees involved when converting your cryptocurrency to Indian Rupees. This turns away many players who prefer not worrying about multiple steps to get their real money winnings.

Bonuses are a focal point of online gambling in India. These bonuses are used to draw in new customers and retain existing ones. Bonuses aren’t free money, but they are an opportunity to increase your winnings.

There are several key common bonus types you’ll find while browsing India’s online casinos. 

The welcome bonus is the most valuable bonus type you can claim at any online casino.

• New Customers Only
• One-Time Bonus
• Offered To Attract New Players
• Best Value for Your Money

Have a look at our India casino welcome bonus page if you wish to claim the top offers and learn more about this bonus type.

The no deposit bonus is close to free money, but following the terms and conditions is crucial to earn some real money winnings. As its name states, you can claim this bonus without investing real money. As you can imagine, it’s highly sought after and not really common.

• Low Value
• Offered to Attract New Players
• No Player Risk Involved
• Low Winning Potential

We provide a list of the top offers in our India no deposit bonus offers page, as well as discuss everything you need to know about this bonus type.

Free spins are very common at India’s online gambling sites.

They can be paired with a welcome bonus or offered standalone. With a free spins bonus, you are given a certain amount of bonus spins on a slot. After you’ve used these spins, your winnings will have to be wagered.

• Offered to New and Existing Players
• Common Bonus Type
• Mediocre Value

You can learn more about this bonus, and browse a hand-picked list of free spin offers in India in our dedicated page.

At many online casinos in India, you will find local favorites such as Teen Patti, Andar Bahar and Three Card Rummy. Some of the very best gambling sites on the market target the Indian populace and offer these games in standard and live dealer form.

Besides that, all the table game classics are available in abundance. You have your Blackjack, Roulette, Baccarat, Poker as the main table games of choice.

Many players also prefer Video Poker which is a mix between slots and poker. This game type is common as well.

The most prevalent game type are Video Slots, and they usually make up for 90% of each Indian online casino’s gaming library.

There’s also the sought-after Progressive Slots with millions in jackpot prizes that can change a player’s life overnight. The best jackpots are Mega Moolah and Mega Fortune – names familiar to any online casino player.

It's safe to say Indians have plenty of choices online in terms of games, online casinos, and bonuses. Fortunately, many foreign-licensed sites have focused hard on players from this region. As such, you can enjoy safe gambling online in Indian rupees, claim bonuses in your local currency, and enjoy geo-friendly payment options.

In the future, a locally-regulated online gambling market would help a lot for both players and the government alike. Having the protection of an Indian-licensed casino that could potentially rival the UKGC in terms of safety and fair play would elevate online gaming even further. For the time being, the situation is not grim at all, and we suggest you have a look at our top recommendations for a safe online gaming experience. 

Further up this page, we provided you with the best online casinos in India. These expert choices went through a strict review process. Trust the results.

Here is a full list of online casinos in India for your consideration as well.

Many of the online gambling sites we feature have a focus on multiple markets, but some are specifically focused on one region  in a way that makes them stand out the most. If you happen to be visiting from these regions, or you are simply interested in the state of online gambling across the globe, have a look below.