Can I Bet Legally In IPL Matches? |Crypto Sports Betting Exchange

Can I Bet Legally In IPL Matches?: Betting and gambling are illegal in India. But no law specifically prohibits online betting and gambling.

Though police have arrested many people from different parts of the country in the past in connection with online betting, foreign betting companies are using legal loopholes to lure Indians into betting.

The absence of reform in modern legislation has created confusion among people about the legality of betting.

Now let’s move on to today’s topic ‘Can I Bet Legally In IPL Matches?’

Table of Contents

Confusion About Indian Betting Law:

Electronic betting on cricket and other sports is taking full strides in India. But there is no exact law on the legality and illegality of online betting.

Many online betting sites like Dream11 etc claim that there is no betting involved and it is a matter of pure skill and knowledge of the participants involved.

It is worth noting that Dream11, which is the largest online gaming platform in India, has secured an IPL title sponsorship from BCCI for IPL.

They regularly advertise on television and invite people to engage in online betting. But still, no law stops them from online betting.

Section 30 of The Indian Contract Act 1872 states that agreements by means of bets are illegal. But Indian Contract Act has not defined the word Wager which gives rise to confusion.

The Prize Competitions Act 1955 also deals with certain types of betting. But it says nothing about online betting and gambling. Which is taken advantage of by the online betting company.

How To Play With International Bookmakers From India?

Bookies are illegal in India. But there is no definite law that prevents Indians from betting online with bookies who are based out of India.

A popular betting website 1xbet.com claims that they do not accept bets, rather they act as an intermediary between international online bookmakers and customers.

Various online betting agencies like Bet365, Betway, Betfair, etc also say the same. All these agencies accept betas from customers in India.

Unlike the US where they have the US Internet Gambling Prohibition Act, there is no specific law in India. But Delhi High Court advocate Vikrant Pachnanda says that

According to the Public Gambling Act, of 1867, all forms of gambling are illegal in India. It becomes very difficult to catch the criminals who host these gambling sites, as the servers of these websites are located in many countries where betting is legal.

Similarly, it becomes difficult to charge an Indian resident involved in online gambling when gambling laws are legal in the particular countries where the website is hosted.

Central Government’s Position Regarding Online Betting:

According to the Consolidated FDI Policy Circular 2015, the Government of India has clearly stated that FDI is illegal in online gaming, online lottery, betting in casinos, etc.

From this, we understand that the intention of the central government is not to encourage online Providing any kind of assistance to gambling or betting agencies.

But the central government has refused to give an opinion on the legality or illegality of online betting and gambling. Moreover, the Supreme Court of India has also refused to give any opinion.

Since there is no clear law in India, online gambling websites operate their websites in other countries (where gambling and betting are legal) and have to follow the rules and regulations of those countries.

But it is true that these online agencies are violating the traditional or offline betting rules in India. (Can I Bet Legally In IPL Matches/)

State Governments Regarding Online Betting:

Gambling is prohibited in every state in India. The Indian constitution gives the state government the power to allow or prohibit gambling in its state.

The Goa, Daman, and Diu Public Gambling Act, 1976 allows betting and gambling in Goa, Daman, and Diu. But hotels have to take permission from their government to do gambling by paying recurring and non-recurring fees.

Similarly, the Sikkim Regulation of Gambling (Amendment) Act, 2005 allows the state to issue licenses to a person or gambling houses who are interested in gambling.