Gambling Casino Games in India
Gambling is an ancient sentiment known to mankind since time immemorial. With the development of culture, gambling games also appeared as a type of dispute where the winnings (usually money or something of value) depend to a greater extent not on the skills of the participants, but chance. For example, the game of dice was popular in ancient India as early as the 5th century BC.
Why are gaming and betting so popular?
Nowadays, there is a trend towards an increase in the number of people playing betting games all around the world. Among other things, this is due to the development of technology: now a person does not have to go to the casino, it is enough to turn on the computer or just pick up a smartphone. With the spread of the Internet, this has become possible not only in large cities, but even in remote villages.
The number of people in India that are participating in gambling or sports betting activities is really impressive. Here are some statistics:
| Total number | The approximate number of bettors in the whole country | from 140 to 370 million persons |
| Gender | men, women: | 88,4%, 11,6% |
| Age | People from 18 to 34: from 35 to 55+: | abt 77% abt 23% |
| Region | States where sports betting is most frequent | Telangana, Karnataka, Maharashtra |
| Sport | The most popular sport for betting | Cricket |
| Payment | The most popular deposit methods | UPI, PhonePe, PayTM |
Based on research data, it can be concluded that in India, as well as in the world as a whole, the number of people who are fond of gambling is increasing.
Chance-based and skill-based gambling
We have already defined gambling as a dispute that is more subject to chance. However, this definition is more true for the so-called chance-based games. These include dice, roulette, heads or tails, casino slots and others.
As for skill-based games, in this case, we are talking about a dispute in which trained players compete. It can be sports competitions such as golf, cricket, football or others, as well as casino table games such as blackjack or poker.
Recently, a type of gambling such as Fantasy Sports has been gaining popularity among young people. There can be online competitions both in popular sports (football, hockey, basketball) and in well-known computer games (World of Warcraft, Dota II, Counter-Strike).
Such competitions are held among teams consisting of skilled gamers from around the world, and multimillion-dollar sums appear in the prize funds. It turns out that both the players themselves and the bettors who place bets on the outcome of these competitions earn money in the end.
Is gambling legal in India?
There is an opinion that online gambling is allowed in India, since the Public Gambling Act of 1867 applies only to land-based casinos, and does not concern online portals. So, «if it’s not forbidden, then it’s allowed». However, this is not entirely true. For example, based on the IT Act of 2000, the Indian government can block a local online casino at any given moment. And if it really wants to, can make claims to a foreign gaming portal as well. However, if we are talking about a foreign online casino that gives the opportunity to Indian players to make transactions in local currency, most likely there will be no problems.
At the same time, there is already a precedent that gives us a chance to hope that local and foreign gambling operators will soon be allowed to officially operate in India. Since 2015, the Online Gaming (Regulation) Amendment Bill has been operating in the state of Sikkim, and several operators have already been able to obtain a license for online gambling. In addition, in 2018, the Law Commission of India (LCI) asked the government to legalize sports betting and gambling. Thus, global changes in this direction can be expected in the near future.
Payment options in online gambling
Using card accounts for deposits at online gambling casinos or bookmakers can be difficult in some cases. This is because, according to the Payment and Settlement Systems Act 2007-2008, gaming sites can be blocked and the account holder can be fined. In addition, the RBI banned banks from processing transactions related to gambling and online casinos. Therefore, Indian players for these purposes most often use electronic wallets and payment systems, such as UPI, PayTM, PhonePe, etc. Moreover, on gaming portals where it is possible to use cryptocurrencies, players can top up their gaming accounts in bitcoins, dogecoins, litecoins, Ethereums, Trones and other types of cryptocurrencies that are accessible globally.
Gambling addiction. When does it become a problem?
Craving gambling can form a psychological addiction, which can be a problem for the person as well as a potential threat to society. Gambling addiction often causes depressive disorders and obsession with gaming, and can even lead to suicide.
Such cases have become especially frequent during the COVID-19 pandemic, due to job cuts and the transition to online work. People began to try to solve their financial problems «en masse» through sports betting and online casino games and as a result, many of them found themselves in an even worse financial situation than before. Although, if you carefully read the terms of any online gambling website, you can find a warning against trying to use the playing in order to repay a loan or return any kind of debt.
To confront the problem of gambling addiction, you first need to recognize the existence of this problem. Firstly, you may find yourself feeling that:
- Your participation time in the game has increased;
- The circle of your interests began to change towards things related to gambling;
- You are not able to stop in time both after a big win and after a series of losses;
- You are in a state of irritation and nervousness, your sleep or appetite are disturbed if you are not in the game;
- You are unable to resist the temptation to start the game – it means that you have a gambling addiction, which is called «Ludomania».
If you are at the initial stage, then you can get by with a time limit in the game or a forced break. If these methods do not help, you need the assistance of a qualified specialist, such as a psychologist. You can look for them locally or find support and rehabilitation groups contacts on the website of any reputable online casino in the «Responsible Gambling» section.
The conclusion suggests itself: you need to play for your own pleasure and fun, for no more than a few hours a day, approaching this process carefully and responsibly.
