Understanding India’s Complex Gaming Regulations
One of the biggest countries in the world when we talk about its population, India, represents a vital market for numerous industries. Also, with nearly 1.4 billion people, the government has the hard task of regulating and controlling them all. Such is the case when devising elaborate and complex gambling laws, keeping in mind the need to protect the people and businesses as well. With honoring traditional and cultural values, it is very difficult to balance everything. It is also important to safeguard the people from bad influence while not refusing the taxable income that can benefit the country in numerous ways. Those are the main reasons why these gaming regulations are so complex.
Is Gambling Allowed in India?
Regulations regarding this activity are different at the state level, which means that betting may be allowed in some states while it is not permissible in others. Some states such as Goa, Daman, and Sikkim welcome the casino owners with arms wide open. They see the benefits and are convinced that they can regulate it. We are talking about land-based casinos, or better said in some cases the “floating” ones. It is a whole different story when we talk about some of the top Indian gambling sites, as they are considered a different type of betting. It is easy to get lost in all these discrepancies, but we will try to help you decipher some of them.
Laws That Govern Gambling in India
Even though gambling permission is dissimilar in different states, there is a central law that has its say on the subject. That law is The Public Gambling Act of 1867, which covers public gambling in India. We know that gambling can be fun to people, just like the latest DC blockbusters from Hollywood, but they require strict control of consumption. It states that any running or operating of a public gaming house is prohibited. It has a prescribed sentence of imprisonment and a financial fine. It recognizes the difference between gambling at casinos and owning it. It also covers any roles of being a “middleman” between these two positions.
However, it does separate the games and groups them into two categories. Indian central law, or The Public Gambling Act is making a distinctive difference between games of chance and games of skill. It prohibits gambling on the games of chance, but if the betting occurs on the games of skill, all actions are legal. By the definition of the law, games of skill may depend on some elements of chance, however, while the skill is involved there are no legal repercussions. This means that gambling is permitted on horse and dog racing, and some card games such as the game of rummy.
The Information Technology Act 2000
Since there were not a lot of websites in 1867, or any at all, it was impossible to cover the latest trend that gamblers simply adore. We mean, of course, on the websites and applications that offer entertainment and gambling options to players. When they appeared, the Indian government put certain regulatory bodies to work out the details. The Reserve Bank of India was allowed to facilitate payments and the Information Technology Act 2000 was created to regulate all online betting in the country. It has authority over all cyber activities that are defined as internet gambling and gives officials the ability to block inappropriate content. In that way, the government can control foreign businesses in the Indian market and protect its people.
Creation of Self-Regulatory Bodies and Their Responsibilities
To stay in touch with modern trends and the ever-changing online gambling industry, the government decided to establish a new type of controlling body. They decided to establish self-regulatory bodies with multiple members from different areas of expertise to create the framework of rules. These rules are intended to keep players safe, stop gambling addiction, safeguard minors, and stop financial malversations.
This is just a foundation; some plans are intended to elevate the gambling scene in the country to a whole new level. The members are from different fields as we mentioned. Self-regulatory bodies consist of a government member, a doctor in the field of psychology and mental health, a spokesperson for gamblers, and an eminent person from the relevant field. They are being assembled with the task we mentioned above and are under the control of the central government. The officials guide the SRB and can even disband it if not satisfied with their work.
The Regulations of Different Types of Betting
After we explained how complex the laws and regulations for gambling in India are, it is time to mention the games in detail. Games of skill are permitted, and those include lottery, especially on the national level as well as horse and dog betting. These races occur at specially permitted venues that have licenses to conduct their business. Even with incredible similarities with the lottery, bingo is considered a game of chance and thus forbidden.
The same goes with betting on cricket, without argument the most popular sport in India, especially after a scandal that occurred 10 years ago. It is considered that these types of bets allow money laundering to prosper, and thus are forbidden. However, poker and similar card games are without a doubt categorized as games of skill and are allowed by the Gambling Act. In that way, players can compete and test themselves against each other.
Conclusion
The Indian government has a tough task when it comes to regulating laws and legislation in the country. Even with that, they managed to impose rules about probably the most sensitive topic now – gambling. With the industry changing and evolving so fast, it is very difficult to stay on top. That is why the Indian gambling regulations are a bit confusing, and we hope we made them a bit clearer for our readers.
