Online betting in India is something that many people are afraid to do because they are worried that if they bet online they will be doing something that is illegal. That is why, in this article, we will explain the laws behind online betting so that you know what you are and aren’t able to do.
We will also talk about the most popular sports in India that you can bet on, including cricket betting, football betting and kabaddi betting. Before moving on to help you find the best online betting sites in India and the different betting markets they offer, as well as if they offer a welcome bonus, how you can get in touch with their customer support, and much more.
But let’s start by showing you how to sign up at an online betting site in India, how to make a deposit (including payment methods), and most importantly, how to place a bet and start betting.
Best Indian Online Betting Sites 2022
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How to get started on an Indian Betting Site
The very first thing you will need to do before you start betting is to choose which sports betting website (or mobile betting app) you wish to use. Later in this article we will share three of the best sports betting sites for Indian players.
Signing Up
The next step will be to sign up. Below we will show you the sign-up process for LeoVegas India. Most casinos and sports betting sites have a very similar process.
To sign up at LeoVegas you need to first go to their website leovegas.com/en-in/ and click on the “Play Now” in the top right corner of the screen.
Then click on “Register Now” at the bottom of the screen (you may need to scroll down to see this).
As you can see from the screenshot above, you can sign up quickly using your Google or Facebook accounts, or sign up the old fashioned way by entering your email address, a password and your mobile number, before hitting the “Next Step” button.
Before you do, check on the left side if you want to receive the Sports Bonus or the Casino Bonus – sadly you can’t choose both and you need to do this beforehand otherwise you will not receive a bonus. Other casinos may do this differently.
You will then be asked to enter some of your personal details like your name, before completing the sign up process and verifying your mobile number and email address.
In the bottom right corner of all of these screenshots you will see the “Support” button. Simply click on this if you are having any difficulties with the sign-up, deposit or betting process. Getting in touch with customer support at other betting sites is usually just as easy.
Making a Deposit
Before you can start sports betting for real money or take advantage of a free bet, you will need to make a deposit. Thankfully, this is very straightforward and quick. At LeoVegas, all you need to do is click on the “Deposit” button in the top menu, select which of the payment methods you would like to use (as shown in the screenshot below), and enter the amount you want to deposit.
Placing a Bet
Once you have signed up and made a deposit, the only thing left to do is start betting or playing casino games. Placing a bet at a sports betting website is very quick and easy, as you will see from the screenshots below.
The first thing you will need to do is select which sports event you would like to bet on (this is the trickiest part). When you have chosen the event, you will get to a screen like the one below, where you can see all the betting options for that match.
All you have to do is choose which bet from the selection you wish to make. Once you have selected your bet, you will get a little popup, like the one shown in the screenshot below. Now enter how much you would like to bet, hit the “Place Bet” button and you’re done. It’s that easy.
Is Betting Legal in India?
This is a question a lot of people ask because it can seem quite confusing.
This is primarily because of the Public Gambling Act of 1867, that prohibits the running of or being in charge of a public gambling house. This statement makes many people believe that if they bet, they are betting illegally and could therefore also be punished themselves, even though the law does not specify this.
This is made more confusing because Goa, Sikkim and Daman have casinos that you can visit in person and bet at. You can also play the lottery in many states, as well as bet on rummy, and horse racing – seeming to completely contradict the law above.
Therefore, what is actually allowed and what is not? Regarding online betting, there are only two stipulations:
- The online casino or betting site must not be located in India (to apply with the Act of 1867). This means you can play at a casino, betting site or mobile betting app, that is run by a company outside of India, but not at one based in India. The government also had a rule that online betting sites must accept Indian rupees, however, this has recently been removed.
- Does your state allow online betting? Although there are no federal laws banning online betting, individual states have the power to impose bans on online betting if they wish. Andar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu have done this recently, however, only a handful of states have such laws at this time.
Regarding betting in person, this will again depend on your state’s laws and local politics. However, where betting is allowed your betting options will often be limited to the lottery, rummy, and horse racing. You may also not be able to bet on some or all of these depending on your state.
The simple answer to this question is, betting is not illegal in India. However, individual states can place bans on some or all forms of betting if they wish. Therefore, the takeaway is to check the laws in your state carefully before betting, whether at online betting sites or in person.
Cricket Betting in India
Cricket is by far and away the most popular team sport in India. Although, field hockey still remains the national team sport – somehow! For many in India cricket is like a religion, in the same way that football is to Brazilians.
It is, therefore, no surprise that with the rise of online betting sites, there has also been a rise in cricket betting apps in India – making it one of the most popular sports to bet on. As new players begin to take advantage of the cricket betting options, such as betting on IPL cricket, test series, T20, as well as many other leagues and competitions around the world.
There are many cricket betting sites in India, here is a short list of those with the best betting experience for customers, the first 3 three of which we will go into a bit more detail later in the article:
- Betway
- LeoVegas
- 10Cric
- Royal Panda
- Casumo
- 22Bet
- Bet365
As shown above, signing up at online cricket betting sites is super easy, as is making a deposit and placing a bet. Many online cricket betting sites also have their own apps, making mobile betting a possibility.
What is up to you, is to do your research and carefully check the odds before placing a bet. For example, odds can really vary between betting sites. Therefore, it is important to make sure you choose an online betting site that offers competitive odds. There are also many sites out their offering tips on bets for upcoming matches and how you can win more from your bets.
Indian betting sites, like those mentioned above, offer extra incentives for customers, including live streaming of games, free bets, welcome bonus, along with many other promotions and offers.
IPL Betting for Indian Players
One thing you will find is that most online betting sites in India are actually based in Europe. This is because of the laws in India that prevent companies from setting up betting companies in the country but do not prevent people from betting online.
Because these companies are based in Europe you would think they might neglect sports leagues in India, but you couldn’t be further from the truth. You will find that all the top betting sites in India, as well as many others, offer a wide range of betting options on IPL cricket, including the following:
- The classic win, loss or draw bet
- Win or lose the toss
- Total number of runs
- Odd or Even number of runs
- Over/Under run scores
- Partnerships
- Total numbers of 4’s or 6’s
- Which team will win the league
- And many more.
In the section above we mentioned some of the best cricket betting sites in India that are perfect for those of you that want to bet on IPL cricket.
Different Options for Sports Betting
Sports betting options don’t stop with cricket, you can bet on basically every single sport you can think of, from football to handball, and from ice hockey to air hockey. You can even bet on virtual sports and e-sports (individuals or teams playing computer games competitively in tournaments). In this section, we will cover the next three most popular sports for Indian players to bet on, Kabaddi, Football and Horse Racing.
Kabaddi Betting in India
After cricket, Kabaddi is one of the most popular sports to bet on in India. It is, therefore, no surprise, that like cricket (although to a lesser degree) the possibility to bet on Kabaddi matches and league is growing in availability at Indian betting sites -although this can still be a bit hit and miss. So please check an online betting site carefully to make sure Kabaddi is offered as part of its betting markets before you sign up.
Tip: see our Kabaddi betting guide for the best sites.
Up until recently, Kabaddi used to be virtually unknown outside of India, but due to the fast-paced action in the game, it is beginning to pick up fans across Asia and Europe – another reason why it is increasingly appearing as a sport you can bet on at online betting sites.
Just like most other sports you can bet on a team to win, lose or draw a match, the number of goals per half, cards, and so on.
Later in this article, we will talk about the free bet and welcome bonus offers the top betting sites in India offer, which customers can use to bet on Kabaddi.
Football Betting in India
Football is a team sport that is growing in popularity all across India. The Super League teams have already collected large followings and the increased money in the game is attracting high calibre foreign players including former premier league stars. The aim being to cultivate more homegrown Indian players and perform better on the international stage – and perhaps finally go to the World Cup.
Because of the popularity of football in India and around the world, football betting is probably the most popular form of sports betting. For these reasons, the football betting market is huge. That is why it is hard to find an online betting site where you can’t bet on Indian Super League games.
The kinds of betting options you have on a football game include:
- To win, lose or draw a game
- Over/Under Goals
- Over/Under Cards
- Over/Under Corners/Throwins
- First player to score in a game
- Number of goals per half
- and many more
With so many football betting sites in India, it is important to make sure you choose to play at a site that is licensed and regulated. This will mean you are playing at an online betting site that is fair and takes security seriously.
As a bonus, some of the best betting sites such as Bet365 offer live streaming of football matches from some football leagues. Creating the possibility to watch your favourite team and bet at the same time.
Horse Racing Betting in India
Horse racing is one of the most popular sports in India. Not only that, it is one of the few forms of gambling that you can do in person in many states, alongside betting on rummy and buying lottery tickets. What an online betting site offers is more betting markets – in other words, more races, at more tracks, with more betting options.
For fans of horse racing, what makes a great sports betting site is one that offers a very wide selection of races from all around the world. Those that offer live streaming of certain races take this to the next level. Offering a high-quality betting experience from the comfort of your home.
Another huge thing to consider when it comes to horse racing betting are the odds, and live odds in particular. Odds can vary wildly between online betting sites. For this reason, it is important to do your research and choose an online betting site that offers competitive odds. For example, Bet365 offers a best odds guarantee.
Related online betting India articles on Gambling Times
- A Beginners Guide to Online Betting in India
- Is Online Betting Legal in India?
Mobile Betting Apps available in India
It is fair to say that smartphones have not just changed our lives, but revolutionized it. We can speak to our friends and family whenever and wherever we like, keep up to date with the latest news, do our banking, buy things online, order food, and soo much more. And, we do all that using apps. Sports betting is no different. Not only can you bet via online betting sites, most online casinos also offer apps that you can download from the App Store or Google Play and use instead of your web browser.
There are many benefits to online betting apps. The fact that they are optimized to work perfectly on your smartphone, for one. Meaning you don’t have to contend with a betting website that doesn’t load properly or where some of the functions don’t work.
But that’s not all. Many casinos spend a lot of money and time creating mobile betting apps for their players. That means they don’t want all that hard work (and cash) to go to waste. For that reason, you will find that betting apps tend to have bigger welcome bonuses and better/bigger/more promotions than their online betting site versions. You will also find a lot of little extra perks, just for Indian players who use these.
Here is a short list of some of the best betting apps available to Indian players:
- Betway App
- LeoVegas App
- 22bet App
- Bet365 App
How does a Free Bet work?
Many online sports betting sites in India offer new customers a free bet as part of a welcome bonus. They may also offer them to players from time to time as individual or promotional offers, usually for large upcoming sports events, like a test series or World Cup. But what exactly is a free bet, and is it actually free?
It is important to understand that all free bets, regardless of whether they come as part of a welcome bonus or promotion, come with terms and conditions. For example, you may need to place a bet that meets a certain set of requirements before you will receive the free bet. This could be making a bet of at least ₹1000 within 7 days of making your first deposit and at odds of at least 1.6.
There may also be similar restrictions when it comes to the free bet itself. You may be restricted to betting on certain sports or specific events/matches, the minimum odds that are allowed, and so on. The take away from this is to read through these terms and conditions very carefully.
If you are a beginner, free bets are a fantastic way to try out sports betting and see if it is something you like, without the risk of losing any of your own money. For more seasoned players they are a great way to try out new strategies or use for riskier bets that are at longer odds.
It is important to note that if you win your bet using a free bet. Online betting sites will usually only give you your winnings from the bet. They will deduct the stake (the free bet amount) from this total.
Top Betting Sites in India
In this section, we will cover the three best online sports betting sites in India. Covering the range of sports you can bet on, including Cricket, Kabaddi, Football, and Horse Racing. Touching briefly on their welcome bonus (do they offer a deposit bonus, free bet, etc). Going on to talk the deposit options and withdrawals, the sign up process, and how good the website is for online betting in India. So that you can find the best sports betting site for you.
Betway Betting
Betway is one of the best online betting sites in the world. It is not only one of the biggest, but also one of the most trusted. Betway India holds both UK Gambling Commission and Malta Gaming Authority licenses. They also sponsor high profile sports teams like West Ham in the Premier League.
Betway began purely as an online betting site and it really shows. As you can see from the screenshot above, the first thing you see is a free bet offer. In turn, “Sports” is also the first option in the top menu bar.
As for the range of sports you can bet on, as well as Cricket betting, Indian players will also find horse racing betting, football betting, along with a plethora of other sports. Betway India also offer many promotions for Indian players, including a weekly free bet worth ₹500 to players who bet at least ₹500 in a week on multiples.
Talking of promotions and bonuses, Betway India also offer a welcome bonus where they will match your first deposit up to ₹2500.
It is hard to find a better online betting in India than you get at Betway, and via their app. However, if you also like to play casino games from time to time you will be disappointed by the limited range of casino games available at Betway. They also store cookies regarding your visits.
Customer support at Betway is available 27/7 via live chat, email and phone, however, their phone number is a based in the UK.
LeoVegas Sports
LeoVegas India has a big focus on cricket, which is absolutely perfect for us Indian players. They even have their own LeoVegas Cricket Club that offers customers free bets, profit boosts, as well as many other bonuses.
But it doesn’t stop there. The range of sports you can bet on is as wide as you will see and includes all the popular sports such as football, horse racing, and golf, along with up and coming sports like esports.
Where LeoVegas is really head and shoulders above other online sports betting sites is how easy to use and intuitive the site is. Whether LeoVegas is your first betting website or you are an experienced player you will find it super easy to use.
The site also comes with a couple of fantastic features. It is possible to watch streams of some live games from the LeoVegas site. Meaning you can bet while watching the game. Add in the fact that you can also follow the live scores in all the other games you want to follow using the filtering system and you couldn’t have a better place to watch the game and place a bet.
To top it off, LeoVegas offers a very large sports welcome bonus worth up to ₹10,000. It also has one of the best betting apps around.
One error we did find with the betting site though was that sometimes the sportsbook did not load correctly, making it impossible to see the sportsbook or place a bet. We are not sure if it was a problem with the site or our web browser.
Customer support at LeoVegas is available 27/7 via live chat, email and phone, however, their phone number is a based in Malta. Also Paytm is not one of their accepted payment methods, which may be disappointing for some of you.
10Cric Betting
10Cric India is an online betting site with a growing reputation in India. Like Betway, its focus is on sports betting. As you can see from them the screenshot below, the 10Cric homepage is the sports betting page, which is very handy indeed.
The screenshot also shows a big focus on cricket betting, which is perfect for players in India. As for the rest of the sports betting selection, on top of cricket betting, they also offer football betting (including Indian Super League), horse racing betting, snooker betting, golf betting, as well as many other sports.
As for the welcome bonus, 10 Cric India offer a sports welcome bonus (known as the Winning Welcome) worth up to ₹10,000 in bet credits as part of a 100% matched bonus.
10Cric isn’t just a great sports betting site, they also have one of the best betting apps around. In addition, 10Cric offer a decent selection of payment methods including cryptocurrencies, which is not so common for betting sites in India.
Customer support at 10Cric is available 27/7 via email and phone (Canadian Number) – sadly there is no live chat support.
Indian Online Betting FAQ
Is online betting legal in India?
There are no nationwide federal laws that outlaw online gambling in India. However, each state has the power to impose bans if they wish. Tamil Nadu and Andar Pradesh recently did exactly this, banning all forms of online gambling. Therefore, please make sure that you check the laws in your state before signing up and playing at a casino or online betting site.
Which is the best betting site for Indian players?
Above we described that three of the best online betting sites in India to place a bet at are Betway, LeoVegas, and 10cric. However, there are many other top betting sites that have a good reputation, such as Bet365, 22Bet, Casumo and Royal Panda. The biggest word of advice we can give when choosing an online betting site is to choose one that is licensed – preferably by either the UK Gambling Commission or Malta Gaming Authority because these are the strictest regulators. Playing at a licensed casino means that it is both safe and fair.
Can I bet with Indian Rupees?
Yes! Most online casinos that accept Indian customers allow you to deposit and withdraw your money and make bets using Indian rupees. It was even a government law up until recently that all casinos catering to Indian players must accept the currency. Despite this change, it is hard to find a casino aimed at Indian customers that do not accept rupees.
How do I withdraw money from an Indian bookmaker?
Withdrawing money from a licensed and regulated casino or betting site like the ones listed above is very simple. All you have to do is log into your account select which of the payment methods you wish to use (e.g. Visa/Mastercard, Skrill/Neteller, etc) and how much you would like to withdraw. All that is left to do then is wait for the money to arrive in your account. How long this takes will depend on which of the payment methods you choose. However, on average you can expect to wait anywhere between 2-5 days to receive your withdrawal. However, if you choose bank transfer (the slowest payment method), you may have to wait up to 7 business days for your withdrawal.