India is one of the world’s fastest-growing online gambling markets. The popularity of iGaming in the country has grown exponentially since the industry’s inception over the past decade or so. In India, online gambling has become a popular pastime, partly due to tech advancements and a cost reduction of smartphones. Indian gamblers love to play casino classics like roulette, blackjack and poker, but also like to spin the slots reels.
Gambling online in India falls into a legal grey area, leaving many Indian gamblers in the dark. I’ve decided to take an in-depth approach to the matter, which will hopefully help those who remain slightly perplexed. In this article, you’ll learn things like:
- The legality of online gambling in India
- How to make casino payments
- What the future holds for the Indian iGaming industry
- How to find the best casino for Indian players
| 1 |
|
£25Welcome Bonus |
Visit | |
| 2 |
|
£200Welcome Bonus |
Visit | |
| 3 |
|
$500Welcome Bonus |
Visit | |
| 4 |
|
$/£/€998Welcome Bonus |
Visit | |
| 5 |
|
$333Welcome Bonus |
Visit | |
| 6 |
|
$3000Welcome Bonus |
Visit | |
| 7 |
|
$4000Welcome Bonus |
Visit |
Online Gambling in India
Online gambling in India is still in its infancy, with only Nagaland and Sikkim having laws enacted into the virtual casino scene. Most Indian gambling laws are obsolete and directed at land-based casinos. According to the Public Gambling Act from 1867, any form of gambling is illegal in the country. But when it comes to online gambling on sites which servers are located offshore, the laws fall flat.
There is no Indian law that forbids gamblers to play at an online live casino located outside of the country. Operators based in foreign countries do not need to abide by the Indian law. The only exception is Maharashtra, where the betting laws are stringently applied.
According to the Federal Information Technology Act from 2008, Indian internet service providers must block foreign betting sites. However, this law doesn’t forbid Indian players from accessing casino websites.
Long story short, playing at an online casino located outside India is not illegal. Indian players can:
- Play at any foreign casino that accepts players from India
- Take advantage of fantastic bonuses and promotions offered by these operators
- Access the full list of casino games on these sites, including slots, table games, and live dealer games
- Contact customer support whenever they want
- Make deposits and withdrawals via all the popular payment methods.
What About Payments?
When choosing an online casino, payments are always a significant aspect for consideration and, unfortunately, one of the biggest obstacles faced by Indian punters. Only a handful of foreign operators accept deposits in Indian Rupees. Credit/debit card and wire transfers are standard, but they’re not always the safest option.
That said, e-Wallets are becoming more popular among Indian punters. Payment providers such as PayPal, Neteller, AstroPay and Skrill are currently the best methods for online gambling in India.
e-Wallets are also more convenient and much faster than other payment gateways. For example, the withdrawal processing time for e-Wallets is around 24 hours whereas, if you cash out using bank transfer, it may take up to 10 days until the transaction is completed.
The Future of Online Gambling in India
India’s gambling industry has blossomed over the last five years in particular, with reputable iGaming brands that possess coveted gambling licenses offered by the states of Nagaland and Sikkim. Although these are the only Indian states offering licenses, I believe that many more will follow their example. This move would open up the existing market and make gambling more straightforward for established fans of online gaming in India. The future indeed looks fantastic!
Best Online Casinos for Indian Players
Here, I’ve selected the best gaming sites that welcome players from India. The operators we choose are nitpicked and put player protection as the number one priority. We also try to review each casino operator with absolute objectivity since my goal is to help Indian punters find a place where they can gamble in a safe casino environment. Here is what we expect from top Indian casinos:
- Must be licensed and certified — Every casino on the list must be legal for Indian players and regulated by an esteemed governing jurisdiction. Players can have peace of mind knowing that they’re spinning the reels and turning cards at a site that is safe, legitimate, and genuinely random.
- Every casino must offer a wide range of options for Indian players — Each casino must include a broad range of convenient deposit and withdrawal methods. This way, Indian casino enthusiasts will have access to sites that accept a plethora of payment options, many of which offer complimentary bonuses.
- All winnings must be paid quickly — Every casino from our list will pay winners their hard-earned cash as promptly as possible. Here, you’ll find casinos that offer swift payouts, ranging from 24 hours to four days.
- Must provide a wide range of gaming options — The amount of games is a large part of what makes a gaming site so fantastic, so anything less than an extensive casino portfolio is not acceptable. Furthermore, games must be provided by top software suppliers in the industry.
- Customer support must be prompt, efficient and resourceful — Customer support must be available 24/7, and always ready to resolve any concerns Indian players may have. Live chat, email and, in most cases, phone support will be available for players who speak Hindi, English, and other native languages.
- Bonus packages must be rewarding and come with low wagering requirements — Every gaming site on our list provides fantastic bonuses and promotions for both newcomers and regular players. Most of them run Loyalty schemes, through which Indian punters can earn lucrative prizes.
Why Play at Top Indian Casinos?
You should play at these casinos because they tick all the right boxes, from customer service to payment methods and game selection. These sites welcome Indian players with open arms and, as a token of appreciation for registering and their site, they will offer astonishing bonuses.
I know how much Indian punters love casino games, which is why I handpicked sites that offer all the popular casino games. But the games must be provably fair and random; otherwise, these gaming hubs wouldn’t make it on the list.
As for customer support, I’m very much aware of the fact that Indian players would find themselves in unfamiliar territory on these sites, which is why customer support assistance must be readily available at all times.
Online Gambling Tips for Indian Players
When you decide to take casino action on, you will have much more to look forward to than simply access to a plethora of casino games. There are other features and incentives that will help you get started and continue helping you throughout your gambling adventure.
These benefits come in the form of casino bonuses and promotions. So, you should look for:
- Casinos that offer no deposit bonuses
- Casinos that offer bonuses with low wagering requirements
- Casinos that frequently offer time-limited promotions
- Casinos that offer Loyalty schemes.
Along with the casino gaming, you should look for sites that over a live dealer platform. These games make you feel like you’re at a brick-and-mortar casino, complete with a live dealer via HD video feed. Live dealer casinos offer a more immersive casino experience, and Indian punters love it.
When looking for the best sites to take care of your online gambling desires, you should look for casinos where you can make transactions in Indian Rupees. Not many operators offer this option, but you should be able to find one or two of them. And if not, it’s not a big deal, as many of the casinos are multi-currency friendly, and this means that you can play in Euros, USD, and several other currencies.
Popular Casino Games Among Indian Players
If you’ve been to India, then you know that the gambling culture here is unlike anywhere else in the world. India is home to millions of people who love to win big playing casino games.
Players here love all sorts of games, including slots, blackjack, roulette and video poker, but they also love local games like Flish, Passa, Paplu and Andar Bahar.
Players in India have a plethora of options to choose from when it comes to playing casino games online. But not all casinos are created equal, which is why you should choose your gaming destination carefully — you want to have a peace of mind knowing that you’re playing at a 100% safe and legitimate site. That’s why we only recommend casinos that are licensed by esteemed international regulatory bodies.
India Online Casino FAQ
Indian players can find a top online casino if they do their homework. It may be challenging to find a casino that ticks all the right boxes for you, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t get in on the action on your own terms. And if you need help in finding that, take a look at our FAQ section below. We’ve collected all the most common questions from Indian players. Read on!
