📝 Is Online Betting Legal in India? Full Legal Guide for 2025

Introduction

Online betting in India is booming — but so are the questions surrounding its legality. You might be wondering:

  • “Is betting on platforms like RadhaExchange.in legal?”
  • “Can I get into legal trouble for placing online bets?”
  • “What does Indian law really say about online gambling?”

In this comprehensive 2025 legal guide, we break down everything you need to know about the current status of online betting in India, state-wise laws, grey areas, and safe practices to protect yourself.


⚖️ The Core Law: Public Gambling Act, 1867

India’s primary gambling law is over 150 years old and was designed to control physical gambling houses — not the internet.

Key points:

  • The Act prohibits operating or visiting a public gambling house.
  • It does not mention online betting or games of skill.
  • Enforcement is up to individual states.

💡 Verdict: The law doesn’t directly ban online betting but gives states the power to regulate it.


🌐 What About Online Betting?

India doesn’t yet have a central law that clearly governs online betting. This has created a grey area, where many offshore platforms (like Radha Exchange) operate legally because:

  • They are registered outside India.
  • They accept Indian users, often supporting INR and UPI payments.
  • No Indian law explicitly bans betting on international platforms.

✅ That’s why platforms like RadhaExchange.in are widely used and continue to grow in popularity.


📍 State-Wise Legal Status (2025 Overview)

StateOnline Betting Status
Goa, SikkimRegulated and permitted under state licenses
MaharashtraBanned under Bombay Wager Act
Telangana, Andhra PradeshExplicitly prohibited under local laws
Delhi, Punjab, HaryanaNo specific law against online betting
Karnataka, Tamil NaduAttempts made to ban; under legal review
Most North-East StatesNo enforcement or mention of online betting

⚠️ Always check your local laws or consult legal advice before promoting or organizing betting activities.


🎲 Skill vs. Chance: The Legal Loophole

Indian courts have made a clear distinction between:

  • Games of Skill (legal): Poker, Fantasy Sports, Rummy
  • Games of Chance (regulated or banned): Lottery, roulette, traditional gambling

Where does betting fall?

  • Cricket betting is still considered a game of chance, but with strategy and analysis, it shares qualities of skill-based games.
  • This is why many platforms use “Exchange” models and emphasize “skill-based betting” to stay compliant.

🛡️ How Radha Exchange Operates Within Legal Boundaries

  • Hosted and licensed outside India
  • No physical presence or offices in India
  • Peer-to-peer betting system (not bookmaker-led)
  • Supports responsible gambling and KYC protocols
  • Transparent odds, bet tracking, and dispute resolution

📌 You are not breaking Indian law by using the platform for personal betting, as long as it’s for entertainment and not part of illegal activities (like match-fixing, money laundering, etc.).


🧠 How to Stay Safe While Betting Online

  • ✅ Always use trusted platforms like RadhaExchange.in
  • ✅ Avoid unlicensed or fake apps promising fixed matches
  • ✅ Don’t use shared bank accounts or borrowed funds
  • ✅ Stick to your personal betting limits
  • ❌ Never promote or run betting groups in states where it’s banned

🧾 Using the platform is legal for personal use, but promoting, advertising, or organizing betting without a license is not.


📢 Government’s Future Outlook

India is expected to introduce a central regulatory framework for online gambling by 2025–2026. This may include:

  • Age verification
  • License requirements
  • Tax on winnings
  • Standardized player protection policies

Until then, offshore betting platforms like Radha Exchange remain operational in most parts of India with minimal legal conflict.


Conclusion

Online betting in India exists in a legal grey zone — but if you’re placing bets for personal entertainment on a licensed offshore platform like Radha Exchange, you are not violating any national law. Just be sure to check your state’s rules and play responsibly.

✅ For a transparent, secure, and reliable betting experience,
🎯 Join now at RadhaExchange.in

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