Indian Government Proposes New Regulations On Gambling

    The Indian Government faced numerous challenges over the years with the lottery, betting, and gambling market. The Gambling Law in India is already complicated and strict. It needs updates and more regulations about offshore gambling activities, and Indians need protection.

    Moreover, online games of chance and games of luck played on mobile phones need to be defined and differentiated more from each other.

    What does the Government propose? The latest declaration of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s top bureaucrats could change the lives of thousands of Indian gamblers.

    The Current Gambling Law in India

    The current Indian Gambling Law is straightforward but complex. Land-based casino playing and online gambling are illegal activities in most countries. Some states, such as Goa, Daman, Diu, Sikkim, and Nagaland, accept some games of chance and sports betting.

    If an online gambling establishment wants to function fully legally in those states, it has to submit special requests. After all the paperwork is done, the casino will have a permit to work under the Indian Gambling Law.

    Difficulties That The Indian Government Faces

    Gambling games are prohibited in most Indian territories, and the Law does not make a difference between land-based and cruise ships with casinos here.

    The Laws differentiate games of skill from gambling games. But some states made additional rules and are extra careful with them too. Games of skill played with stakes are mostly illegal because they fall under the definition of gambling.

    The offshore lottery puts the Indian Government to the test even more. They are losing millions of rupees annually from taxes and the long-awaited implementation. People prefer to bet at online casinos for the benefits and convenience offered.

    Offshore casinos developed apps and mobile-friendly extensions to give players comfort. The state’s lottery website is not fully updated and lacks features. That’s why people distanced themselves more and more from state lotteries and bets and embraced online ones.

    This Proposal Could Shape the Future of Mobile Casinos

    Online gambling has experienced continuous growth since casinos updated their websites to a new interface in order to accommodate players better. The new mobile-friendly interface helps gamblers access their favorite sports or games faster. The sites provide the same high security, encryption, and features, as the PC version.

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s top bureaucrats concluded that the country needs a regulatory body. The first thing that the regulatory body would have to do is to classify online gambling games based on chance or skill. Furthermore, it has to regulate both game categories, sports betting and online lotteries.

    The Government draft advocates for implementing a “Code of Ethics” that publishers and game developers must follow. The targeting would have strict rules for both Indian and offshore entities. The Governmental body would also have to block any illegal gambling website that targets Indian players.

    Three Steps Dispute Resolution Procedure

    The draft suggests a dispute resolution mechanism with three different authorities. The first one would be the gaming platform. The second one proposed is made with self-regulatory organizations for gambling websites. The last one is an oversight and observation committee led by one of the relevant ministries.

    After the IT Ministry and the panel members finish their negotiations and changes, they will send the draft to the cabinet secretariat. The Cabinet will carefully weigh every suggestion and investigate the solutions proposed by the project. It is not yet known how much time this process will take, but there will definitely be an answer in 2023.

    Final Thoughts

    This long-awaited draft comes and fits perfectly with the fast-expanding gambling market. The industry will hit the 120 billion Indian rupees milestone in 2023. This report could potentially save the inconsistent state laws and help people avoid gambling addiction. 

    The project has the potential to make an essential contribution to many people’s lifestyles. As soon as the first step is completed and the Cabinet approves the draft, the entire gambling sector will face changes. Numerous countries with gambling reglementary bodies witness massive transformations in people’s behavior, tax revenue, and overall wealth.