For this reason, Indian players must understand the legal implications and make informed decisions when choosing an online casino platform. The current gambling laws in India fail to address the nuances of the online casino landscape, leaving room for ambiguity and confusion. Horse racing, for instance, is considered legal in India. However, as gambling often involves elements of both skill and chance, it can be challenging to differentiate between the two categories. For example, it distinguishes between ‘games of skill’ (legal) and ‘games of chance’ (illegal). Given the Act’s archaic nature, its gambling provisions are open to interpretation. On the other hand, owning a gaming house carries a penalty of a $3 fine or a jail sentence of no more than three months. For example, being caught in a gaming house could result in a fine of $1.5 or imprisonment of up to one month. This Act, originally intended to regulate card and dice games, is now the basis for the country’s gambling laws, despite being outdated and needing significant revision to address the emergence and growth of online casinos.Īt its enactment, penalties for violating the law were relatively mild and insufficient as a deterrent. As previously discussed, India’s primary legislation governing gambling is the Public Gambling Act of 1867.
