Online casinos accepting Indian players are on the rise. Some of these websites welcome you with free spins to play your favorite slots immediately after you create a free account. You receive an even bigger bonus if you link a card and make your first deposit.

Are these sites legal? Is online gambling allowed in India? Join us as we take a closer look at the legal landscape of online casinos in the country.

The Legality of Top Online Casinos in India

Gambling is a matter of state concern in India. Three states, Goa, Sikkim, and Daman, permit one or more forms of online gambling. Most states have no laws concerning iGaming, meaning they don’t explicitly prohibit online casinos.

Although you can find online casinos easily in India, they’re not created the same. Read reviews of the best Indian casino sites to find a safe and trustworthy site that provides your favorite games.

 Look for a licensed online casino with a secure website and a great reputation in India. A license shows that an operator is genuine. Website security helps protect your data while a positive reputation means the company is trustworthy.

Many online casinos in India have licenses from foreign jurisdictions such as Malta, the UK, Curacao, and Panama. That’s okay as long as the license the genuine and the company is reputable.

The Public Gambling Act, 1867

In 1867, the Indian government created an act prohibiting anyone from operating a public gambling house. Under this law, the government could jail you for up to three months for providing illegal gambling.

As an act created more than 100 years ago, the Public Gambling Act does not reference anything related to online gambling. It only prohibits you from starting an illegal land-based sportsbook or casino.

Over the years, the government has drafted more laws designed to provide clarity about gambling in the country. They include the Information Technology Act of 2000, which empowered the government to regulate online activities but didn’t mention anything about iGaming.

Indian courts have the power to interpret the Information Technology Act and clarify whether online gambling is illegal at the federal level. But so far, the courts have left gambling regulatory matters in the hands of state officials.

Offshore Casinos in India

As we already stated, many online casinos accepting Indian players are located overseas. These companies are targeting Indians because there’s a high demand for online gambling in the country.

Can you trust offshore casinos? Some offshore casinos are some of the most popular gambling brands in the world. They’re popular because they’ve built a solid brand centered on customer satisfaction.

If you’re like many people in India, you like to spend your money on genuine brands. No one wants to deposit money online only to lose it to fraudsters. In light of that information, below is a guide on how to find genuine online casinos in India:

 Safety and Trustworthiness

The first thing you should check about a gambling site is its safety measures. As we stated earlier, a valid license is a good place to start. The best casinos in India come from Malta. So, look for a valid Maltese license in any casino you want to join.

Some Indian casinos also hold a license from the UK. That’s alright because the UK has extremely strict rules. Casinos licensed in the UK and Malta tend to be safe and trustworthy.

Speaking of which, trustworthy operators have secure websites. They encrypt your data using SSL. They also allow you to protect your account with a password and two-factor authentication.

Some sites take an extra measure to prove they’re trustworthy. They invite independent auditors to check their games for fairness. Auditors also audit a site’s books to verify that it pays out money to winners without fail.

Payments and Withdrawals

Many Indian online casinos support local payment companies for deposits and withdrawals. You can use your Visa or MasterCard if you prefer card payments. You can also pay via Internet banking, Paytm, Google Pay, or Apple Pay.

Choose an online casino with your favorite payment methods. Ensure your chosen payment option provides fast, mobile-friendly transactions with conveniently low fees.

Another feature to check in a payment company is its allowed limits. What’s the minimum you can send? What’s the maximum you can receive? If you have a small budget, you need a payment wallet with a low minimum and a high maximum limit.

Mobile wallets like Apple Pay provide low minimum amounts. But if you win a windfall from an online casino, you will need a better payment option for withdrawals. Banks and cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin can handle large sums of cash.

Games and Software Providers

Many casino sites in India offer a comprehensive library of games to their players. The standard casino has 500+ slots and table games. Slots come in a wide variety, ranging from the classics to visually impressive video slots.

Microgaming, NetEnt, Big Time Gaming, Blueprint Gaming, Betsoft, Play’n GO, Playtech, and IGT are some of the best developers in the industry. Look out for these companies if you love slots.

If you prefer table games like poker and blackjack, find a live dealer casino. Here, you will play your favorite card games with real human beings. All you need is a clear web camera and fast Internet. Of course, you need money in your account to afford games.

Bonuses and Promotions

In nearly every part of the world, online casinos promote themselves using bonuses. India casino sites are no different. They give out bonuses to anyone willing to sign up for a free account.

Are these bonuses worth it? Online casino bonuses can boost your bankroll and help you minimize losses. But there’s a catch. Most bonuses have terms and conditions.

If the terms are fair, a bonus can be very lucrative. If the conditions are harsh, a bonus is not worth your time. Against that backdrop, choose bonuses after carefully assessing their terms.

Learn more about wager requirements, game weighting, validity time, and withdrawal limits. These terms determine whether a bonus is good or bad.