India Center for Unlawful Internet Gambling: CUTS International

Consumer Unity and Trust Society (CUTS) Global

It is a non-profit, non-governmental entity focused on advancing social justice and economic fairness internationally.

Founded in 1983 in India, it has extended its reach internationally, establishing advocacy centers and resource hubs in nations such as Zambia, Kenya, the UK, and Vietnam.

Main Insights of the Report

High User Engagement: The leading 15 illegal betting sites, such as 1xBet, Parimatch, Stake, Fairplay, and BateryBet, together recorded more than 5.4 billion visits in FY25.

Financial Scope: Yearly contributions on these platforms are projected to be approximately $100 billion, prompting worries regarding money laundering and tax evasion.

Regulatory Gaps: Numerous platforms circumvent KYC and age checks, putting minors at risk of gambling-related harms.

Advertising & Payment Concerns: Offshore operators take advantage of India’s advertising and payment systems, facilitating user access to these sites.

Concerning Online Gambling / Betting in India

Online gambling involves engaging in betting activities through the internet.

It entails making bets or wagers on different games and events to win cash or other rewards.

Online betting sites in India persist in functioning, frequently via overseas companies.

Main Issues

Money Laundering & Fraud: Reports suggest that online betting sites are utilized for money laundering and terrorism financing, leading to demands for tighter regulation.

Dependency and Psychological Health Challenges: The growth of real-money gaming has caused worries regarding gambling addiction, with instances of monetary difficulties and mental health issues among participants.

Jurisdictional Challenges: The international aspect of online gambling makes enforcement difficult, since numerous platforms function from jurisdictions that are beyond the control of Indian authorities.

Deceptive Promotions: Prominent endorsements of gambling sites enhance their broad attraction.

The Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) identified numerous offshore betting advertisements, emphasizing the necessity for more rigorous advertising regulations.

India's Legal System

Although it does not specifically address online betting, the Public Gambling Act of 1867 forbids gambling in the majority of India.

State-Specific Laws: Under controlled circumstances, states such as Goa, Sikkim, and Nagaland have legalised online betting and other types of gambling.

Supreme Court and High Court Decisions: Courts have made a distinction between games of chance and games of skill, permitting fantasy sports and other skill-based gaming platforms while banning websites that only offer gambling.

Online gambling provisions were added to the Information Technology Act of 2011 by amending it to stipulate that websites providing online gambling services must be based outside of India.

Consumer Protection: Advisories cautioning against the promotion of unlawful betting platforms have been issued by the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA).