The Historical Context of Gambling and Sports Betting in India

India's relationship with gambling dates back centuries, embedded in cultural practices like card games during festivals or horse racing traditions in regions such as Maharashtra and West Bengal. However, modern regulations stem primarily from the Public Gambling Act of 1867, a colonial-era law that prohibits most forms of gambling except for horse racing and state-run lotteries. This act defines gambling broadly as any game of chance for stakes, leaving little room for sports betting, which involves wagering on outcomes of events like cricket matches or kabaddi leagues.

Fast forward to the digital age, the Information Technology Act, 2000 (IT Act), and its amendments began addressing online activities. Section 66A was struck down, but provisions under Section 67 target obscene or harmful content, indirectly applying to exploitative betting sites. States have varied approaches: Goa and Sikkim permit casinos, while Tamil Nadu and Telangana have banned online real-money games intermittently. Cricket, India's national passion, has been particularly vulnerable, with scandals like the 2013 IPL spot-fixing case exposing how underground betting syndicates manipulate outcomes for profit.

Match-fixing, where players or officials deliberately underperform to influence results, thrives in opaque betting environments. International examples, such as the Hansie Cronje scandal in South Africa, underscored the need for vigilance. In India, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) introduced anti-corruption units, but enforcement lagged without national betting oversight.

📈 The Explosive Growth of Online Sports Betting

The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated online sports betting in India, with platforms like Dream11 and My11Circle rebranding fantasy sports as 'skill-based' games to skirt gambling bans. By 2025, the industry was valued at over $2 billion annually, driven by smartphone penetration (over 800 million users) and UPI payments enabling seamless transactions. Cricket events like the Indian Premier League (IPL) and T20 World Cup fueled this boom, with users betting on everything from match winners to player runs.

Fantasy sports differ from traditional betting: participants create virtual teams based on real player stats, earning points from performances. Courts, including the Supreme Court in 2021, ruled certain formats as skill games, exempt from the 1867 Act. However, pure betting—predicting scores or outcomes—remains illegal federally, though offshore sites accessed via VPNs proliferated. Reports estimate 140 million active users by 2025, with daily wagers exceeding ₹10,000 crore during IPL seasons.

This growth raised alarms over addiction, money laundering, and sports integrity. Underground bookies, often linked to organized crime, offered odds on unregulated platforms, facilitating match-fixing approaches to athletes.

• High smartphone adoption enabled 24/7 access.
• UPI and crypto payments bypassed bank scrutiny.
• IPL's global viewership amplified betting volumes.

🚨 The Online Gaming Bill 2025: A Game-Changer

In August 2025, the Union Cabinet approved the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025, passed by Lok Sabha amid widespread support. This landmark legislation classifies online betting as punishable, distinguishing 'permissible' skill games from chance-based wagering. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) acts as the central regulator, harmonizing state inconsistencies.

Key provisions include mandatory verification, spending limits, and self-exclusion for addicts. Real-money games require certification as skill-based, with hefty compliance costs weeding out fly-by-night operators. The bill targets 'addiction, fraud, and national security risks,' explicitly addressing sports betting's role in corruption.

Unlike the Law Commission's 2018 recommendation for regulated betting (which suggested a federal framework with 5% GST), the 2025 bill opts for stringent curbs. It empowers blocking non-compliant apps via the IT Rules, 2021, blocking mechanism.

Recent Crackdowns: Blocking Thousands of Illegal Sites

Enforcement intensified post-2025 Act. On January 16, 2026, authorities blocked 242 illegal betting and gambling websites, pushing the total to over 7,800 since the crackdown began. These platforms, often hosted on offshore servers in Curacao or Malta, offered unregulated sports betting, including live IPL odds.

MeitY and the Ministry of Home Affairs coordinate with banks to freeze deposits/withdrawals. Telecom providers block URLs at the ISP level, rendering sites inaccessible without VPNs. This follows similar actions against loan sharks, signaling a broader digital hygiene push.

High-profile platforms face scrutiny: Parimatch and Stake, popular for cricket betting, navigate legality via international licensing, but Indian users risk penalties. Fantasy giants like Dream11 must delist cash contests or face bans.

Photo by Zoshua Colah on Unsplash

🎯 Directly Targeting Match-Fixing in Indian Sports

New laws zero in on match-fixing by criminalizing betting facilitation. The BCCI's Anti-Corruption Unit now collaborates with MeitY for real-time monitoring. Whistleblower protections encourage athletes to report approaches, with evidence from blocked sites aiding probes.

In cricket, spot-fixing—manipulating specific moments like no-balls—has resurfaced concerns ahead of IPL 2026. Kabaddi Premier League (PKL) and Pro Kabaddi League face similar threats, with betting syndicates targeting lower-tier players. The bill's data-sharing mandates allow cross-verification of suspicious betting patterns against match footage.

Internationally, the International Cricket Council (ICC) praises India's moves, aligning with its Anti-Corruption Code. Past convictions, like Sreesanth in 2013, highlight enforcement gaps now plugged by digital oversight.

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Impacts on Major Sports Leagues and Athletes

IPL, generating ₹48,390 crore in 2023, relies on sponsorships from betting-adjacent firms. New rules ban such ads, potentially slashing revenues by 20-30%. Fantasy apps, contributing 15% of broadcast rights, must pivot to free-entry models.

Athletes face stricter ethics codes; endorsements by celebrities like MS Dhoni or Virat Kohli for betting apps now risk fines up to ₹1 crore or three years' imprisonment. Non-cricket sports like ISL football and PKL suffer most, with leagues fearing shutdowns of state-level events.

• Revenue dip from vanished sponsors.
• Cleaner competitions boost credibility.
• Shift to regulated esports betting.

Google's ad ban on rummy/fantasy from January 21, 2026, amplifies this.

Penalties, Enforcement Mechanisms, and Celebrity Scrutiny

Violators face imprisonment (up to 3 years), fines (₹1 crore+), and asset seizures. Influencers must disclose promotions, with non-compliance equating to facilitation. Banks monitor UPI transactions for betting keywords, auto-flagging suspicious flows.

Enforcement involves the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) and state police. A national registry tracks permissible games, with annual audits. Tax evasion via hawala networks, common in betting, is curtailed through PAN-linked deposits.

Public and Social Media Reactions

On X (formerly Twitter), reactions are polarized yet largely supportive. Users hail the 'surgical strike' on addiction and crime, with posts praising penalties on celebrities. Critics worry about fantasy sports jobs and rural economies dependent on PKL betting.

Trending sentiments include calls for regulated betting like the UK model, where licensed operators fund integrity units. Hashtags like #OnlineGamingBill trend with 50,000+ mentions, reflecting youth concerns over financial ruin.

Photo by Raju Kumar on Unsplash

Future Outlook: Regulation vs. Innovation

By 2026, expect a bifurcated market: regulated skill games thrive, betting migrates underground or offshore. States like Andhra Pradesh may pilot licensed sports pools. Globally, India's stance mirrors Brazil's 2024 legalization with safeguards.

Benefits include preserved sports integrity, reduced youth addiction (affecting 5-10% of users), and ₹10,000 crore GST potential if legalized partially. Challenges persist in VPN circumvention and crypto bets.

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Wrapping Up: Navigating India's Sports Betting Landscape

India's 2026 reforms mark a pivotal shift toward integrity in sports. While challenges remain, the focus on match-fixing protection promises fairer play. Share your views in the comments—have these laws changed your perspective on fantasy apps?

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