New online casinos in India: the law and the risk

Fantasy sports and rummy

The 2025 Act also covers fantasy sports and rummy played for money, which were previously run openly by Indian companies. Free-to-play games and e-sports without stakes remain allowed.

What India's Online Gaming Act says about online casinos

India governs online gambling through the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025. India cites the law as Act No. 32 of 2025. The law was enacted in 2025, and it has been in force since 2026.

India classes online casino play as Prohibited. India also classes sports betting as Prohibited. India records its licensing model as Prohibited, so no licence route exists for an online casino.

These statuses point the same way, and none of them depends on where a casino is licensed. A foreign regulator can authorise a casino to accept bets in its own jurisdiction. That authority does not extend into India. A player in India therefore gets no legal protection from a casino's offshore licence.

Penalties for operators, advertisers and payment providers in India

India sets different penalties for each role under the Act. Our country records keep separate entries for operators, advertisers and payment providers. Each of the three roles carries a fine and a prison term, and the records also list website blocking.

The Act targets the businesses that offer, advertise or process payments for online money games. The records do not set out a prison term for a player who places a bet. A player's main exposure is practical. Banks and payment apps must block such payments, and a deposit can fail or be reversed.

A blocked payment can also leave a balance stuck at an offshore casino. Withdrawals to the same bank account or UPI handle may not arrive. Players who feel gambling is getting out of control can read our guide to gambling addiction and where to get help.

Offshore casinos that accept players from India

Offshore casinos can still list India among the countries they accept. Accepting a player and being legal for that player are different things. The first is a decision in the casino's terms. The second is a decision in Indian law.

The ranking on this page compares casinos whose terms do not name India as a restricted country. Our ranking method scores each casino on its own checks, and a high position is not advice to play from India. Before registering, read the casino's terms. Our overview of terms and conditions at new casinos explains the clauses that matter, because restricted-country wording can change without notice.

Terms may also restrict bonuses by country, so a casino that accepts India could still withhold its welcome offer. Players should confirm each restriction with the casino in writing before depositing.

State gambling laws in India

India is a federal country, and gambling is a matter on which states also legislate. State laws apply on top of the 2025 Act. A state rule can therefore be stricter than the national position, and it never makes online casino play legal where the national law prohibits it.

A player's state of residence is worth checking, but the national ban comes first. Lotteries are a separate case. India classes online lotteries as Restricted, which is a different status from the ban on online casinos.

What this means for Singapore players

This page covers India, which is a different market from Singapore. A Singapore resident who travels to India should not assume Singapore habits carry over. Casinos that accept players from Singapore often ask for identity documents before a first withdrawal, and our guide to why new online casinos ask for ID explains the reasons.

The safest reading for a traveller is simple. In India, do not play at online casinos, and do not move money to casino accounts. Our country pages compare how other markets treat online casinos.