Best Indian Local Betting Sites

Gambling is an inextricable part of Indian culture, having been present on the subcontinent for more than three millennia. Indian local betting sites are flourishing, since Indians are avid bettors who massively enjoy wagering on sports and especially on cricket matches. Estimates show that 48% of all adult males place a wager once every month; with 80% of all bets being placed on matches of major cricket leagues, such as the IPL.

India's view on gambling might be considered as conservative by western standards. Nevertheless, significant steps have been made in terms of moving towards a more liberalized licensing system since 2018; when the Law Commission of India suggested the full regulation of online gambling.

Best Indian Bookmakers

We gathered the top betting sites in India by narrowing the choice down to the ones that have high odds on cricket matches, offer local payments such as UPI/IMPS and accept the Rupee.

Betting in India - 5 Things to Know

• 1
  No legal action has been taken against individuals who indulge in online betting
• 2
  Most credit card transactions to and from online betting sites are blocked
• 3
  80% of all sports betting revenue is generated through cricket
• 4
  A new betting law was proposed in July 2018 that has yet to be put to vote
• 5
  Online betting is legal in the state of Sikkim since August 1, 2009

General info

⏩Population: 1.372.899.807

⏩Active players: 183.094.118

⏩Currency: Indian Rupee (INR)

⏩Regulated gambling products: Lotteries, horse racing, games of skill, offline casino games

⏩Operator types: State lotteries, land-based casinos in Goa, Sikkim and Daman & Diu, online betting sites operating without a permit

⏩Designated authority: Law Commission of India - gambling is regulated on a state level

⏩Status: Grey market - The state of Sikkim offers regulated online gambling

How to Choose the Best Betting Sites in India

If you're looking for the best online betting site in India then you should have in mind the following 5 criteria.

• Cricket: The top betting sites offer 100+ markets with more than 60 alternative bets at every match of top leagues such as the IPL or the CPL. Moreover, they have very competitive odds with 95%+ payout on pre-match and 90%-93%+ in the in-play section;  as well as great bonuses on a weekly basis. Among the various Indian cricket betting sites, the one that has emerged as the top is 22bet.
  
  
• Live Streaming: It is a feature that all the top betting sites in India should have, especially when it comes to sports like cricket. Live streaming constitutes an integral part of a good live betting platform. It is very important to be able to watch the matches of the biggest competitions (like the Big Bash) while placing your bets. Bookies such as Bet365 and 1xBet offer games on live streaming daily even through your mobile phone.
  
  
• Rupees: Besides being really convenient, betting on bookies that allow you to fund your account by using the local currency is of mass importance. This is due to the fact that you don’t need to convert your Indian Rupees (INR) to foreign currency and worry about the conversion fees that are usually steep. International bookies, such as 22Bet and Betwinner, offer the rupee as a standard currency; making the whole transaction process much easier.
  
  
• Local Bank Transfer: When it comes to funding your account you should make sure that the bookie you consider picking up accepts local banking methods, such as Netbanking, PayTM, Phone or Skrill India. For instance, Bet365 offers bank transfer deposits via both payment processing systems.
  
  
• Promotions: Apart from great welcome bonuses, the top bookmakers should provide punters with daily offers and other excellent promotions on cricket matches of major competitions like The Ashes and the Marsh One Day Cup. 888sport though is the best bet site in India when it comes to Hero CPL T20 promos.

Laws Surrounding Local Betting Sites in India

Online betting is not regulated and is thus considered prohibited, according to the Public Gambling Act of 1867; that still remains to this day the main gambling law in India. From a legal point of view, gambling is currently legal only within the state of Sikkim.

More specifically, although betting is illegal at a central level, it is up to the states to interpret the betting laws in India the way they like; with online betting being legal exclusively in Sikkim since 2009. India is a thriving grey market for international operators. Local punters are free to choose among various non-licensed bookmakers that cater to the local market.

Is Betting Legal in India? Essential Information for Players

As mentioned above, online betting is still not legal in India. If you place a bet online, you are doing so without the government's consent. There is no need to worry though as, except for ISP and payment service provider blocks, no further measures have been taken.

More specifically, no bettor has ever been prosecuted or convicted for gambling individually online. Nevertheless, in recent years the authorities have become more active and there were some rare occasions of law enforcement.

The most recent incident took place earlier in 2019 in Jaipur, where the local police arrested two men, part of an illegal gambling ring, for placing online bets on Betfair; by using a VPN in order to circumvent the geo-blocking measures imposed by the bookmaker.

The popular betting exchange has pulled away from the market, but there are still many international betting sites for Indian players, like 22Bet or Bet365. It is also worth noting that since India is still considered as a grey area in online betting, players do not have to pay a gambling tax on their winnings; as opposed to the offline 30.90% tax on horse racing.

Sports Betting in India

Although betting in India might be far from perfect and still considered as non-legal, local punters remain passionate about sports. Online sports betting in India can easily be translated to cricket betting, as 80% of all wagers are placed on the IPL, the CPL, The Ashes and Big Bash. Football might not enjoy the same popularity.

Also Read: Best IPL Betting Sites

However, it’s on the rise, with 15% of total bets being placed on top leagues from around the globe. Furthermore, sports betting sites in India, such as Bet365 and 22Bet, offer bets on Kabaddi and horse racing which are both extremely popular among punters.

How to Bet Online in India

In case you’re wondering how to bet online in India, all you have to do is to follow the 4 simple steps below.

The Future of Online Betting in India

The future of betting online in India looks very promising, especially after the clear intention of the government to fully legalize it. More specifically, according to the 276th report of the country’s Law Commission that was released on July 5, 2018, gambling is set for full regulation sooner rather than later.

Nonetheless, there still hasn’t been any significant development yet, although we believe that it’s only a matter of time. Besides, all parties involved will be benefited. Namely, the government will be able to gain significant tax revenue deriving from licensed operators and the market will attract more international brands, that will give players the opportunity to wager legally on their favourite sports.