Country guide
Betting sites in India for 2026
Real-money online betting is prohibited across India under the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025, which bans online money games whether based on chance or skill. Independent scoring, sources cited, prices from live feeds when available. This page is informational and does not list a scored operator roster for India.
Legal status
Sports betting law in India
Real-money online betting is prohibited across India under the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025, which bans online money games whether based on chance or skill.
| Regulator | Online Gaming Authority (to be established or designated by the Central Government under the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025) (n.a.) |
|---|---|
| Statutory age | 18+ |
| Currency | INR (₹) |
| Tax on winnings | Winnings from online games are taxed at a flat rate of 30% with no basic exemption and no deductions. |
- The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025 was passed by Parliament on 21 August 2025 and bans offering, advertising and payment processing for online money games, while promoting e-sports and online social and educational games.
- The Act applies to services offered within India and to operators based outside India, and provides no licensing, registration or exemption route for online money games; platforms can be blocked under section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000.
- Gambling has historically been a state subject built on the Public Gambling Act, 1867, with state statutes differing widely, and offences under the new central Act are cognisable and non-bailable with penalties up to three years imprisonment and a fine of up to one crore rupees.
Sites
Sports betting sites for India
Real-money online sports betting is not legal for India residents at the time of writing. We do not list an operator roster on this page and we do not recommend any site that would breach the current framework. For jurisdictions where the check has cleared, open the reviews index.
Sports
Popular sports for betting in India
Ordered by domestic attention, based on published participation and viewership data. Full sources are cited at the foot of this page.
- Cricket
- Indian Premier League (IPL)
- Football (Indian Super League)
- Kabaddi (Pro Kabaddi League)
- Badminton
- Field hockey (Hockey India League)
- Tennis
- Athletics
- Kho kho
Major events readers follow
- Indian Premier League (Annual)
- ICC Cricket World Cup (Every four years)
- ICC T20 World Cup (Every two years)
Offers
A note on promotional offers in India
Local rules limit the kind of promotional wording an operator can use for India. This site does not list welcome offers or free-bet claims for readers here.
Payments
Payment methods used for online betting in India
Availability and speeds are typical for the market and vary by operator.
| Method | Type | Speed | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| UPI | instant bank transfer | Instant | The Unified Payments Interface is the backbone of Indian digital payments, launched by NPCI in 2016 under RBI oversight. |
| PhonePe | e-wallet | Instant | Holds roughly 46% of UPI volume in India. |
| Google Pay | e-wallet | Instant | Holds roughly 34.6% of UPI volume in India. |
| Paytm | e-wallet | Instant | Long-established Indian digital wallet and UPI app. |
| Net banking | bank transfer | Same day | Direct bank-account transfers remain a mainstream Indian online payment route. |
| RuPay debit card | card | Instant | Domestic card scheme widely issued with Indian bank accounts. |
| Visa debit card | card | Instant | International scheme cards issued by Indian banks. |
| IMPS / NEFT bank transfer | bank transfer | Same day | Interbank transfer rails used for larger amounts. |
Identity checks
KYC and identity verification
Licensed operators must verify a new account before it can deposit or withdraw, and must run anti-money-laundering checks throughout the account life. Expect to submit a government photo ID, a proof of address dated within the last three months, and a proof of the payment method you plan to use. Underage accounts must be identified and closed. Winnings from an unverified account cannot be paid out.
Safer gambling
Safer gambling in India
18+. Online money games are prohibited in India. For free mental health support, call Tele MANAS on 14416.
Helpline: Tele MANAS (National Tele Mental Health Programme), 14416, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Website
Self-exclusion: n.a.. India has no national gambling self-exclusion register; the 2025 Act prohibits online money games outright rather than regulating them.
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FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Real-money online betting is prohibited across India under the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025, which bans online money games whether based on chance or skill.
The statutory minimum age for online sports betting in India is 18.
Winnings from online games are taxed at a flat rate of 30% with no basic exemption and no deductions.
Every licensed operator holds a record on the Online Gaming Authority (to be established or designated by the Central Government under the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025) register. Check the operator name against that record before you register.
Yes. Licensed operators must verify a new account before it can deposit or withdraw, and must re-verify if the account changes materially.
Sources
References
- The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025 was passed on 21 August 2025 and imposes a complete ban on online money games, bans their advertising and blocks related payments.
- The Act prohibits online money games whether skill or chance, applies to foreign operators, and provides no licensing or exemption route.
- Winnings from online games are taxed at a flat 30% under section 115BBJ with 30% TDS under section 194BA and no basic exemption.
- Gambling in India was historically governed by the Public Gambling Act, 1867 with state laws applying within state boundaries.
- Tele MANAS is the Government of India's toll-free national tele mental health helpline on 14416, available 24/7.
- Cricket is India's most watched sport with around 612 million followers, ahead of football and kabaddi, and the IPL is the leading domestic competition.
- UPI, launched by NPCI in April 2016 under RBI oversight, has become the backbone of Indian digital payments.
- PhonePe holds about 46% of UPI share and Google Pay about 34.6%, with digital wallets covering 60.7% of Indian payment modes in 2025.