India sees explosive rise in illegal online Gambling, 1 6 billion visits in 3 months

The rules deal with different aspects such as applications foroperating gambling website and advertisement which can be put up on thewebsite. In K.R. Lakshmanan v. State of Tamil Nadu2, the Supreme Court defined a ‘game of skill’ to mean “one in which success primarily depends on the superior knowledge, training, attention, experience, and adroitness of the player”. Games like golf, horse race betting and chess are considered to be “games of skill”. It is interesting to note that even if horse race betting is assumed to require skill, betting in Cricket is prohibited even though the required skill set is substantially similar.

In the fast-evolving digital world, Gambling problems have become increasingly problematic around the world recently. According to an article published by the world’s leading magazine, approximately 40 % of internet users in India have gambled and it has been suggested that India may overtake the United Kingdom as gamblers per capita. Online gaming is carried out on a digital platform in the same way as actual gambling at brick & mortar casinos and sporting events. People can take advantage of a number of Internet sites to play secrets where and when they aren’t known about it.

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Under the IT Act, the Indian government has the authority to block access to websites that engage in or promote gambling activities.Some states have also enacted specific legislation to address online gambling. For instance, the Sikkim Online Gaming (Regulation) Act of 2008 allows for the licensing and regulation of online gambling operators within the state. Other states, like Telangana and Tamil Nadu, have amended their existing gambling laws to explicitly include online gambling as an illegal activity. Consequently, the legality of online gambling in India depends on both the type of game (skill vs. chance) and the specific state laws governing the activity.

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• In 2025 alone, over 3,900 betting-related violations were recorded in the state, and 25 celebrities and influencers were booked for promoting banned betting platforms.
• Games like golf, horse race betting and chess are considered to be “games of skill”.
• Sports betting is also on the roadmap in India, pending the report of the Law Commission of India, due to be released shortly.
• The objective is to understand how people perceive online betting and gambling versus online gaming, what they want from regulation, and how compliance can be ensured by building alignment between public expectations and government actions.

These states have issued licenses to operators who comply with their respective regulatory frameworks. They offer online casinos, sports betting, and other forms of gambling that are permissible under their laws. When it comes to online gambling, the situation becomes more complicated, as the Public Gambling Act kabaddi league of 1867 does not directly address the issue. However, the Information Technology Act of 2000 (IT Act) does provide a legal framework for regulating online activities, including online gambling.

In the recent times gambling has become a talk in the legal fraternity as well. With so many recent judgements depicting a collective opinion of the society towards segregating illegal gambling from its legal forms and protecting games like Rummy and others we review the laws related to gambling in different states in India. The report recommended that regulatory bodies like the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre work with digital platforms to proactively monitor and remove illegal gambling content. According to the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI), there has been a surge in gambling ads across digital platforms, often using exaggerated claims to attract players. Online gaming platforms must prevent addiction, fraud, money laundering, cheating, etc., among their users and report any suspicious or unlawful activity to the relevant authorities. By understanding and complying with the online gaming laws in India, industry stakeholders like players, operators, investors, and legislators can navigate the complexities of this dynamic sector effectively.