According to the Gambling Act, betting as well as gambling are prohibited in India. But yes, there are some states in India where you can legally gamble. If you want to know the state-specific laws and the actual strict laws regarding betting and gambling in India, then keep on reading. Here we go.
What Laws Are There For Gambling In India?
In India, gambling regulations are grounded in the Public Gambling Act of 1867. It is super easy to understand and straightforward, this law bans running or being in charge of a public gambling house. Importantly, it allows states the freedom to adapt or formulate their own gambling statutes, as gambling is designated a state issue by the Constitution. Such an arrangement makes each state empowered to either adhere to the national law or draw its guidelines on the conduct of gambling activities.
State-Specific Gambling Laws
When it comes to gambling in different states of India, the very approach is far from uniform, it strikes to extremes between one state and another. Goa, Daman, and Sikkim have all opened their doors to the benefits of a more liberal stance on gambling, having legalized various formats, right from traditional table casinos to online betting games, the whole spectrum being fully regulated under state-specific laws. At the same time, these states liberalize enough to allow gambling in casinos inside five-star hotels and even offshore vessels, obviously with the approval of the government.
Is It Really Skill vs. Chance/Luck?
Indian legislation distinctly separates games of skill from games of chance. Accordingly, games like Rummy, where a lot of skills are demanded with respect to both strategic thinking and expertise, come under the category of skill games and are absolutely legal. Engaging in such games is held to be legal by the Supreme Court of India. On the contrary, the games that pertain to chance and typically involve betting on random outcomes are considered to be forbidden.
And What About Online Gaming and Betting?
The legal position of online gambling in India remains quite a gray area. The Public Gambling Act does not make mention of, nor contemplate, online gambling. Similarly, the Information Technology Act, of 2000, which dealt with cyber activities, is also silent on the issue of online gambling. However, Sikkim stands out in this by moving forward to legalize and make provisions for online gambling within its borders. Currently, Sikkim is the only Indian state that allows officially legal online sports betting through state-hosted websites. Nevertheless, most online gambling activities still have to face legal stumbling blocks and comply with the predominant laws of that particular state.
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