Will India Ever Consider Regulating Online Gambling in the Country?
Goa, Sikkim, and Daman are the only three states in India that allow casinos to operate. The legality of gambling is subject to each state. India has around 700 million internet users in 2020. Online gambling in the country caters to around 280 million users. Public Gaming Act of 1867 does not mention anything about playing Teen Patti cash online.
There are laws in India that prohibit online gambling activities. Locals can access online casinos as long as they are based offshore. Telangana and Andhra Pradesh have already imposed a ban on all forms of online gaming within the state. Online casinos have to allow locals to transact with them with the local currency.
There is a growing demand for regulation of online gambling in India. The state governments have the power to legalize the operations of such gambling within their territory. Sikkim tried to offer three online casinos in 2010 but failed. Today, India has a huge market for online gaming and gambling. It is estimated that the online betting industry in the country is worth over 5 billion US dollars. India is losing a lot of potential tax revenues. Online gambling could also create thousands of jobs for the locals. It could help to help problematic gamblers.