If you have always wanted to try online roulette in India, but have been wondering whether it is legal or not, this guide is for you. Many people are curious about the legal landscape of roulette in India, and gambling in general, so in this guide, we’ll tell you all you need to know about the legality of online live roulette in India and how recent developments have been changing the picture for players.
Online roulette has already gained popularity in India, but the legal questions surrounding the game and online gambling often leave players uncertain. Is it legal everywhere? What are the rules? And how does the growing popularity of online roulette at sites like https://rouletteguru.in and casino games fit into India’s complex legal system regarding this question? Let’s break it all down in simple terms.
Is Gambling Legal in India?
The first question you’re probably asking is whether gambling is legal in India. Well, the legal status of gambling in India is complicated, and dated. The primary law that applies to gambling is the Public Gambling Act of 1867. It’s intended to regulate gambling and was written back in 1876, which is almost a century and a half ago – back when online roulette live games weren’t even a thought. But, roulette did exist back then, and the Indian leaders at the time decided that they would prohibit running or visiting any type of a public gambling house in India. As you can guess, the law doesn’t apply to online gambling, so this is a massive gray area.
Another important factor to point out is that all Indian states have the power to create their own laws regarding gambling. So, some states, like Goa, Daman, and Sikkim, have voted to allow gambling in multiple forms – casinos included. This means that gambling in casinos in Goa, Daman, and Sikkim, is fully legal. Other states, however, have outright bans on gambling in person. But, there is no federal law that explicitly bans online gambling, nor there is a law that explicitly permits it. This leaves all types of online gambling, including online roulette real money India, an uncharted territory – which is why many players turn to international (offshore) online casinos.
Online Gambling: A Gray Area
We mentioned that the laws around online gambling are not crystal clear. There was an attempt to regulate it with the Information Technology Act of 2000, but it doesn’t explicitly ban online gambling gambling. So, technically, roulette online casinos are legal, and as a result, many international online casinos accept players from India. It’s important to point out that not a single person in India has even been fined for playing at online casinos.
These international sites operate offshore and usually offer a wide variety of games, like slots, poker, and table games like roulette. However, roulette in particular has enjoyed a massive boom, and that’s due to several factors – which we will discuss in the next section.
The Online Roulette Boom in India
Roulette has been among the most popular casino games globally for centuries. It’s been used so much in pop culture that many see it as a game that’s been around forever. However, it has been witnessing a new wave of followers in India because of the reasons we mentioned above. Gambling in land-based casinos was banned for the last 150 years in India, so players didn’t get to experience roulette as much as players from other parts of the world.
This factor, combined with the rise in population of online gambling in India in general, inspired developer companies to design games specifically for the Indian market. Now, developers like Evolution Gaming, Ezugi, Authentic Gaming, Pragmatic Play, and more, run online live roulette games that cater specifically to Indian players. The dealers speak Hindi, wear traditional Indian clothing, accept bets in rupees, and are hosted in studios that have been designed with Indian culture in mind. This approach has further contributed to the surge of popularity of roulette in the country, and it shows that the best online roulette companies in the business take the Indian market very seriously.
What to Expect From International Casinos?
We mentioned that most Indian players play roulette at international casinos. They’re the best option for many because they offer several advantages, such as:
- Localized Features: Games in Hindi, deposits and withdrawals in INR, and Indian-friendly payment options like UPI, Paytm, and cryptocurrencies.
- Convenience: These casinos are available in various languages, can be used on mobile or desktop, and there are no worries about local restrictions.
- Variety: Access to different roulette variations, from European and American roulette to unique formats like Lightning and PowerUP roulette.
What Lies Ahead for Online Gambling in India?
The industry is evidently growing, with the online gambling market in India being expected to reach $1.1 billion by 2025. The Indian government will have to react to this at some point, but no one knows when that could happen. There is a possibility for a legal framework in India to be put into place and address online gambling explicitly. This regulation could bring some benefits to players like better protection, as well as more transparency for the government. However, it would also likely bring tax revenues that players would have to pay on their online live roulette winnings.
For the time being, online roulette remains in a gray area and is accessible to anyone in India through international platforms that operate under foreign licenses, usually issued by the strict regulatory bodies in Malta, the UK, or Curacao. The key is to choose trusted and licensed platforms, play smart, and play responsibly.
Also Read: The Rise of Online Casinos in APAC: Key Business Trends and Opportunities Unveiled
