Unfortunately, there is significant confusion around the legality of online casino play and wagering within India. Much of this misinformation and misunderstanding comes from the complicated laws of both the federal and state government regarding gambling.
The bottom line about real money games legality in India is that it is legal in most states, but there are some states that ban all forms of gambling, both in-person as well as online.
Federal Laws
There are three important federal laws that apply to online gambling. The Public Gambling Act of 1867 does not include any specific information on online gambling as it was established to control in-person gambling. Even then, this law only applies to states without individual laws on gambling and has not been used to oversee online casinos, but it is used for in-person casinos where only games of skill are legal.
The Foreign Exchange Management Act of 1999 focuses on how money can be deposited and withdrawn, including through online casinos. Online casinos must allow transactions in rupees to offer real money games legality in India. Indian players can also use electronic wallet payments, which are not impacted by this law.
Finally, the Information Technology Act of 2000 allows the Indian government to block websites from outside the country that are deemed as unsafe or undesirable. Generally, licensed offshore online casinos are allowed to operate and provide real money games legality in India.
Be sure to check with your state of residence if you want to enjoy playing for real money at an online casino. Most residents of India are not restricted or prohibited from using these sites.