Online Gambling Apps In India

Legal India mobile gambling provided by licensed offshore businesses has developed a substantial presence within the nation's gambling market. Real money mobile betting is the newest form of India's legal online gambling and many gameplay options are available to Indian residents including mobile casinos, poker sites and sportsbooks. We have not uncovered any type of mobile gambling app that supports gambling on Satta Makta.

• Online Sports Betting Apps Indiana
• Online Gambling Apps In India Right Now
• Online Gambling Apps In India Today
• Online Gambling Apps In India Now

Offshore mobile gambling apps offer attractive bonuses, a wide selection of options, and reliable features and services that can be accessed with the use of a portable device or tablet. With 730 million cellphone users in India, there is a high demand for mobile betting to be accessible and functional. This page will answer your questions regarding mobile wagering in India, including the technology that drives the service, the legality among the states and the services offered by offshore trusted mobile gambling sites. If you find this page useful make sure to check our India legal online sports betting & India legal online poker pages for more specifically detailed information.

Is Mobile Gambling Legal In India?

Yes, there are currently no laws that ban legitimately licensed and regulated mobile gambling, so residents can legally participate online through sanctioned offshore wagering sites. There are currently 3 Indian gambling laws that apply to gambling in India, the Public Gambling Act of 1867, Prize Competition Act (1955) and the Information Technology Act of 2000. None of these laws contain any prohibitions or information about online or mobile gambling so it is presumed to be legal. Two states, Sikkim and Nagaland, have already adopted specific legislation allowing state based online gambling and online game operators. Both states regulate and issue licenses for India's legal online casinos based in their state. India’s residents can engage in licensed online sites operating offshore as well as domestic options offered in Sikkim and Nagaland.

Top Mobile Gambling Sites Accepting Indian Players

• Before entering into the question of online betting or gambling, let us examine whether ‘gambling or betting’ per se is legal or illegal in India. There are no central laws against gambling or betting in India. The Public Gambling Act, 1867 does not prohibit gambling or betting, it merely.
• Passwords must contain at least Eight characters, including uppercase, lowercase letters and numbers.

The growing popularity of cricket betting in India has coincided with the boom in the sale of smartphones. In a country where most bettors access Internet on their smartphones, betting apps are drawing more bets, traffic and eyeballs towards cricket bookmakers. Despite the popularity of gambling in India, it’s technically prohibited in most of its forms. There are some exceptions, but there is very little in the way of legalized and regulated gambling. Much of the legislation which relates to gambling is very outdated and decidedly unclear. This is especially true when it comes to online gambling. We have the same goals for our gambling policy. We don’t allow online casinos or support any unregulated gambling apps that facilitate sports betting. This includes if an app leads consumers to an external website that allows them to participate in paid tournaments to win real money or cash prizes, it is a violation of our policies.

Most Trusted Mobile Gambling Apps For India Residents

India Mobile Casinos

India residents are currently allowed to access mobile casino apps offering real money casino games like India friendly online slots through legitimately licensed online casinos. There are no laws that ban online gambling on a national level or that prohibit residents from enjoying licensed mobile casino applications. Many mobile casinos accept India players, and some will even allow players to deposit and bet using Indian Rupees (INR). Casino apps frequently offer promotions and bonuses to their players and feature the latest security protocols that protect sensitive and personal information. While the game menu at mobile casinos is typically smaller than the range of options found at traditional online casinos, players will find a substantial variety available. The mobile casinos provided by our recommended brands function through a web based, mobile optimized application and most do not require any type of download in order to participate.

India Mobile Poker Sites

There are several reasons that mobile poker apps are gaining momentum, including convenient access and bonuses. With mobile gambling apps you are able to play poker from anywhere that you have an internet connection. The bonuses are another reason online poker is popular among players in India and this translates into the mobile platform as well. Most mobile poker sites will offer a welcome bonus or a reload bonus among other special promotions. We have begun to see tournament action being offered through mobile poker apps as well as an expansion of features, functionality and game selection. Poker did not make it to the mobile platform as quickly as casino games did due to the more complex nature of the technology involved, but now that it has entered the mobile market, we are seeing the technology advance fairly quickly.

India Mobile Sportsbooks

Sports betting is more popular in India now than it has ever been. India mobile sports betting apps allow players to place bets from their smartphone or tablet and access advanced features offered through premium sportsbooks. Like the other mobile gambling venues, mobile sportsbooks offer frequent bonuses and promotions to new and returning customers. The sportsbooks that we feature on this page have invested in advanced application development that delivers impressive functionality such as live betting and live streaming of select events. India residents will be glad to know that there are multiple ways to bet on cricket matches, locally or internationally. Here are some other sports that you can bet on with mobile sportsbook apps.

• Cricket
• Basketball
• Baseball
• Football
• Soccer
• MMA
• Darts
• Hockey
• Horse Racing
• And many more

The Technology Behind Mobile Betting Sites

Mobile betting sites utilize the latest technology for the presentation of their online sites. Some sites offer an app that can be additionally downloaded but most sites use a web-based responsive technology that is optimized for mobile use so that players don’t have to download anything else to play. Responsive web design allows a website to automatically detect the precise specifications of nearly all portable devices in order to support perfect rendering of the site’s layout, features, options and services instantly. This technology is widely used by online gambling sites for its convenience and ease of use.

Currently many mobile gaming companies are using the HTML 5 coding language to present their websites and mobile wagering applications across different internet browsers. This newer technology is being used because of the number of different internet browsers used across all the media devices available to market. HTML 5 paired with the CSS programming language can determine what elements are, their size, or color and optimize that information across multiple devices and browsers. This paring is being used in many of the newer online casino games you play today. With so many people playing the same games on phones, tablets, desktop computers and other devices the importance of the CSS and HTML 5 pairing is vital.

iPhone Gambling Sites

All of our recommended betting destinations optimize their mobile betting applications for iPhone and iPad devices. Even older generation Apple iPhones and other products can be displayed properly when responsive technology is implemented. Software updates may be required in order for previous generation devices to operate properly as well as to ensure all current security protocols are being utilized. Maintaining software updates on your iPhone or iPad is just good practice anyhow, but is imperative if you consider processing any type of financial transactions, including online wagers.

Android Gambling Sites

The Android platform is just as popular as Apple, so it would be foolish for online betting sites to neglect this segment of the market. When web based, optimized responsive technology is used, mobile betting sites can be displayed accurately on tablet or portable devices. The Samsung Galaxy brand is one of the most widely sold Android devices in India.

Windows Gambling Sites

Windows is a somewhat newer platform to enter the cellular market, but serious improvements and upgrades to their operating system, features and services have driven dramatic increases in their market share. Though not every online wagering site is optimized for the Windows mobile platform, responsive technology is highly compatible with Windows devices and instantly renders these betting apps perfectly according to the applicable and precise specifications of each device.

BlackBerry Gambling Sites

Blackberry still has several different versions of their smartphones that are in circulation. Since only a small percentage of the mobile market utilizes the Blackberry platform, most gambling sites have not optimized specifically for the BB operating system. Despite this, Blackberry users still have strong access to premium online betting applications. Responsive technology that is integrated across the web and on mobile betting sites is effective to successfully render their betting services on current devices in most cases. Older or out dated devices may not provide an experience quite as seamless as a current device owner, but unless your Blackberry smartphone or tablet is prehistoric you should be good.

Mobile Gambling FAQs

What devices are compatible with mobile gambling sites?

If you can view internet web pages on your device, then its safe to say that it is compatible with mobile betting sites. Most web based, online applications utilize a responsive technology that will optimize a webpage across a wide range of devices and render both display and functionality to be compatible with the specifications of your device. This technology is used for its convenience as well as its ability to perform across the web and on multiple devices.

Do I have to download any software onto my smartphone or tablet to gamble online?

If you access our recommended mobile wagering applications, then there are no additional downloads required in most cases, just sign in and start playing wherever you go and on whatever device you choose. The few betting sites that do recommend a download have developed a very stealth application that does not take up much space on your device or bog down your phone’s operating system.

Are there welcome bonuses at India mobile gambling sites?

Yes, there are many bonuses available to players gambling from smartphones or tablets. If you play any of our suggested India legal online gambling sites you will find welcome bonuses and you could stumble across other online bonuses including: free spin, no-deposit, tournament, and loyalty bonuses. Some sites do offer mobile specific bonuses, but you really must search for them since online bonuses are everywhere.

How do I know if a mobile gambling site is legitimate?

The key component in determining the legitimacy of a gambling site is their credentials. The application must be hosted by a gambling site that is legally licensed, subject to regulatory oversight from a respected governing jurisdiction, and compliance certified by third party auditing agencies that monitor fair gaming practices throughout the industry. Aside from credentials, the following elements also determine the legitimacy of a mobile gambling brand:

• Do they use an industry leading software solution?
• Was HTML5 and responsive technology utilized for the application?
• Do they implement mobile friendly payment methods in their banking suite?
• Do they utilize cutting edge security protocols and data encryption that protect sensitive player data?

Is it safe to place bets online from my phone?

Yes, our recommended sites use a TLS (Transport Layer Security) and a SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificate so that your connection is secure, and your information can’t be stolen. It is always smart to take additional precautions when playing online and make sure you only put your personal information on secure pages. It is also important to keep all your devices up to date with the latest software downloads. Software updates eliminate vulnerabilities in operating systems that hackers use to steal vital information.

Aren't smartphones too small to play real money casino and poker games?

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Mobile casino games are optimized to display the best view for any handheld device or tablet. They have been tested on a variety of different sized devices to ensure the best playing experience possible for their players. We cannot say that there is absolutely no device that is too small for a mobile betting experience, but I can confidently say the majority of casino and poker games are viewable and playable on any standard size smartphone device that is in current circulation today.

Can I use Rupees to place bets from my mobile device?

Yes, our recommended sites will accept the Indian Rupees (INR) and other currencies. India is a major market for online wagering so most reputable gambling sites will accept INR or at the very least provide currency conversion services. Today players are taking advantage of other world currency forms such as Bitcoin, Litecoin, and other widely accepted currency options. Many of the digital currency options include perks such as instant deposits and withdrawals with minimal fees. Casinos sometimes offer more lucrative bonuses when depositing with Bitcoin as well. So yes, INR is generally accepted but a look into other payment methods might payoff if you like to frequent offshore mobile gambling sites.

Before entering into the question of online betting or gambling, let us examine whether ‘gambling or betting’ per se is legal or illegal in India. There are no central laws against gambling or betting in India. The Public Gambling Act, 1867 does not prohibit gambling or betting, it merely prohibits and prescribes punishment Act to provide for the ‘punishment of public gambling’ and the ‘keeping of common gaming-houses’.

As per the Act, “Common gaming-house” means any house, walled enclosure, room or place in which cards, dice, tables or other instruments of gaming are kept or used for the profit or gain of the person owning, occupying, using or keeping such house, enclosure, room or place, whether by way of charge for the use of the instruments of gaming, or of the house, enclosure, room or place, or otherwise howsoever.

Thus, what is prohibited is “owning common gaming houses”. Further, a person found in such common gaming houses “playing or gaming” or is found there present for the purpose of gaming shall be liable to fine.

Can we say that online betting or gambling website or application is a “common gaming house.” When the Act was legislated in 1867, there was no internet or website. However, if we see the definition of common-gaming house, it includes a “place” in which instruments are kept for gaming. Meaning of place cannot be confined to “physical space only”, a place on web space is also a place, and therefore owning a website or application which offers gaming services “for gain” is prohibited under the Public Gambling Act.

Page Contents

Gaming:

The term “Gaming” was explained by Supreme Court in M.J. Sivani v. State of Karnataka, [(1995) 6 SCC 289],

“The elements of gaming are the presence of prizes or consideration, chance and prizes are reward and games include a contrivance which has for its object to furnish sport, recreation or amusement. Amusement would mean diversion, pastime or enjoyment or a pleasurable occupation of the senses, or that which furnished it. A common gaming house is a place or public place kept or used for playing therein any game of chance, or any mixed game of chance and skill, in which the organiser keeps one or more of the players. It is also a place in which any game is played, the chances of which are not favourable alike to all the players. Gaming is to play any game whether of skill or chance for money or money’s worth and the act is not less gaming because the game played is not in itself unlawful and whether it involved or did not involve skill.”

What is a Game of Skill:

Section 12 of the Public Gambling Act provides that Nothing in the foregoing provisions shall be held to apply to any “game of mere skill” wherever played. So, what is “game of skill”. A game of skill is a game where the outcome is determined mainly by mental or physical skill, rather than chance. Alternatively, a game of chance is one where its outcome is strongly influenced by some randomizing device, such as dice, spinning tops, playing cards, roulette wheels, or numbered balls drawn from a container. While a game of chance may have some skill element to it, chance generally plays a greater role in determining its outcome. A game of skill may also may have elements of chance, but skill plays a greater role in determining its outcome.

Whether a game is of chance or skill is a question of fact to be decided on the basis of facts and circumstances of each case. The Indian courts have recognised that no game is a game of pure skill alone and almost all games involve an element, albeit infinitesimal, of chance. The Hon’ble Supreme Court of India has interpreted the words “mere skill” to include games which are preponderantly of skill and even if there is an element of chance, if a game is preponderantly a game of skill, it would nevertheless be a game of “mere skill”.

What is Gambling:

Supreme Court observed in K.R. Lakshmanan (Dr) v. State of T.N., [(1996) 2 SCC 226],

“The New Encyclopaedia Britannica defines gambling as “the betting or staking of something of value, with consciousness of risk and hope of gain on the outcome of a game, a contest, or an uncertain event the result of which may be determined by chance or accident or have an unexpected result by reason of the better’s miscalculations”. According to Black’s Law Dictionary (6th Edn.) “Gambling involves, not only chance, but a hope of gaining something beyond the amount played. Gambling consists of consideration, an element of chance and a reward”. Gambling in a nutshell is payment of a price for a chance to win a prize. Games may be of chance or of skill or of skill and chance combined. A game of chance is determined entirely or in part by lot or mere luck. The throw of the dice, the turning of the wheel, the shuffling of the cards, are all modes of chance. In these games the result is wholly uncertain and doubtful. No human mind knows or can know what it will be until the dice is thrown, the wheel stops its revolution or the dealer has dealt with the cards. A game of skill, on the other hand — although the element of chance necessarily cannot be entirely eliminated — is one in which success depends principally upon the superior knowledge, training, attention, experience and adroitness of the player. Golf, chess and even rummy are considered to be games of skill. The courts have reasoned that there are few games, if any, which consist purely of chance or skill, and as such a game of chance is one in which the element of chance predominates over the element of skill, and a game of skill is one in which the element of skill predominates over the element of chance. It is the dominant element — ‘skill’ or ‘chance’ — which determines the character of the game.”

Supreme Court laid down the principle in Satyanarayana case [(1968) 2 SCR 387 : AIR 1968 SC 825 : 1968 Cri LJ 1009], that (i) the competitions where success depends on substantial degree of skill are not ‘gambling’ and (ii) despite there being an element of chance if a game is preponderantly a game of skill it would nevertheless be a game of “mere skill”. We, therefore, hold that the expression “mere skill” would mean substantial degree or preponderance of skill.

The law laid down by Supreme Court in the State of Bombay v. Chamarbaugwala [AIR 1957 SC 699] and [AIR 1957 SC 628], wherein it has been authoritatively held that a competition which substantially depends on skill is not gambling. Gaming is the act or practice of gambling on a game of chance. It is staking on chance where chance is the controlling factor. ‘Gaming’ in the two Acts would, therefore, mean wagering or betting on games of chance. It would not include games of skill like horse-racing. In any case, Section 49 of the Police Act and Section 11 of the Gaming Act specifically save the games of mere skill from the penal provisions of the two Acts. We, therefore, hold that wagering or betting on horse-racing — a game of skill — does not come within the definition of ‘gaming’ under the two Acts.

From the above following proposition emerges;

(i) Betting or gambling is not illegal or prohibited in India.

(ii) What is illegal is running or maintaining “common gaming houses for gains”.

(iii) None of the prohibitions apply if the game is a “game of mere skill”.

Element of Chance and Hope:

There is nothing in this life that does not depend upon chance, at least to some extent. The government makes a policy, and there are elements of chance whether the policy will succeed or not- is the policy-making a game of chance? An art dealer buys a work of art in the hope that prices of that work of art will increase in the future- is it a game of chance? People elect a government in the hope of good governance which may or not materializes- is it a game of chance? If we start seeing life in this light, there is nothing in life that is not a game of chance. If an effort or wish to gain money on chance is gambling- life is a gamble.

What is learning? What is knowledge? Learning or knowledge is nothing but acquiring skills, temperaments and information so that the “element of chance” in every game improves in one’s favour. So why do policy makers learn economics- so that they can make a policy which has a better chance of performing. Why should judges learn law- so that probability of justice increases in judgments.

Usefulness or uselessness of an activity has no meaning. A person may spend years in leaning the nuances of art or poetry or cricket, but on a crude level the activities may not be useful. A game of skill is when a player invests his/her time in learning, practising and refining his skill to perform in a particular game. The Supreme Court noted that games of skill would be where “success depends principally upon the superior knowledge, training, attention, experience and adroitness of the player. It is also noted by the Supreme Court that a Game of Skill will have a predominance of Skill Factor.

The Supreme Court in the case of K.R. Lakshmanan Vs. State of Tamil Nadu [AIR 1996 SC 1153] while deciding whether a “horse-race run on the turf of the club” is a game of chance or a game of “mere skill”? It held that the “horse-racing is a game where the winning depends substantially and preponderantly on skill”. The Court also said that “we have no hesitation in reaching the conclusion that the horse-racing is a sport which primarily depends on the special ability acquired by training. It is the speed and stamina of the horse, acquired by training, which matters. Jockeys are experts in the art of riding. Between two equally fast horses, a better trained jockey can touch the winning-post.

Another example is that of Rummy wherein the Supreme Court in State of Andhra Pradesh v. K. Satyanarayana [(1968) 2 SCR 387] concluded that “Rummy, on the other hand, requires certain amount of skill because the fall of the cards has to be memorised and the building up of Rummy requires considerable skill in holding and discarding cards. We cannot, therefore, say that the game of Rummy is a game of entire chance. It is mainly and preponderantly a game of skill”.

Betting and Gambling- A state subject:

In 1950 the constitution of India was introduced. In the constitution, it is written that states are allowed to formulate their own gambling laws. “Gambling and betting” have been mentioned in list-II of the seventh schedule of the Constitution, and therefore states are empowered to legislate laws on it. This means that each state in India has it’s own “betting and gambling” laws, and hence even the online “betting and gambling” will depends upon those laws.

Online Gambling Apps In India Right Now

Thus, in the state of Maharashtra, games of skill are allowed while games of luck are prohibited. The same is true for Karnataka and many other states. The state of Goa has allowed gambling by enacting the Goa, Daman and Diu Public Gambling Act, 1976. The Goa, Daman and Diu Public Gambling Act, 1976 was amended to allow card-rooms in offshore vessels and slot machines in five-star hotels. The Sikkim Regulation of Gambling (Amendment) 2005 authorises the State government to notify the specified areas where permission can be granted for running of casinos on payment of a specified fee.

The state of Nagaland has enacted the Nagaland Prohibition of Gaming and Promotion and Regulation of Online Games of Skill Act, 2016. The said Act provides for regulation and promotion of “games of skill” through the issuance of licenses. This Act provides that the license holders under the same can operate from any State in India where gambling is allowed. The state of Sikkim has framed legislation regulating the virtual or online gaming activities within its territory through Sikkim Online Gaming (Regulation) Act, 2008.

Recently the State of Tamilnadu, amended the Tamilnadu Gaming Act, 1930 by inserting Section 3A, which states that, “No person shall wager or bet in cyberspace using computers, computer system, computer network, computer resource, any communication device or any other instrument of gaming by playing rummy, poker or any other game.” The ordinance inserts the word cyber cafe under the Act as well as electronic record, computers, computer system, computer network, computer resource or any communication device under the amendment.

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Conclusion:

Betting and gambling are state subjects, and states are duly empowered to regulate “betting and gambling”. The regulations may be in the form of licensing or even prohibition. As different states legislate different laws, uncertainty is likely to continue in the area. Though uncertainty in laws is a great tyranny, “uncertainty” in laws cannot be eliminated just like in any other areas of life. To that extent, even law making is a “game of chance” with the element of hope that newly enacted laws will work and do good.

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[Views expressed are personal views of the author. The author may be contacted on office@rklegal.org]