Online Casino Regulations in India
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Online casinos are huge in almost every country worldwide; one such country is India. Despite most forms of real-life gambling being banned in the country, online gambling continues to thrive. If land-based gambling is heavily regulated, then how are the regulations for online casinos? It depends on which state, but some can still access the top gambling websites in the country.
To say that online gambling regulations are confusing is an understatement. So, to make things easier, here’s the history behind gambling in online slots with real money in India.
The Information Technology Act of 2000 is a broad act that applies to almost any type of online activity. The act doesn’t bring up gambling anywhere in there, so there’s no implication of it being illegal. However, it lets the Indian government block whichever foreign websites it deems necessary to block.
The government can require internet servers to block certain websites for whatever suitable reason. Several online casinos have been blocked due to this procedure. No reasons are given why certain websites are blocked, and we won’t know whether certain websites will become available again. This can make online gambling in India complicated and frustrating, especially if the website is unlicensed.
Gambling Laws by State
In India, most laws either prohibit gambling in general or regulate it. Some states, however, take a different approach to online gambling regulations.
Nagaland Gambling Laws
The Nagaland Prohibition of Gambling Act is a licensing act prohibiting all online gambling with chance outweighing skill. This act is fascinating because Nagaland’s Finance Commissioner manages licensing, enabling any corporation in India to apply for a license. This means any corporation receiving a license can offer its services to other states.
Sikkim Gambling Laws
With gambling, Sikkim is one of the most progressive states in India. In 2008, the state passed its licensing act for casinos; by 2010, Sikkim accepted three applications for online casino licenses. Before 2009, many traveled through Sikkim to gamble in Nepal, but this state law lets India keep the gambling revenue in its own country. When the Sikkim Casinos Act was passed, it indicated that licensed casino operators could offer services throughout India.
Where Gambling is Illegal in India
Three states have made gambling illegal in India- Telangana (in 2017), Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu (in 2020). All three states make it illegal to gamble online in almost all forms. Those caught gambling online can face up to six months in jail and a 5,000 rupee fine on the first offense. Operators and repeat offenders can face up to two years in jail and a 10,000 rupee fine.
Law enforcers have a tough time enforcing these laws without the necessary tools. Andhra Pradesh tried to solve this by convincing the government to act on the Information Technology Act and to shut down over 132 betting sites.
