It is estimated that sports betting in India represent a $60 billion marketplace, making it one of the biggest entities of its type anywhere in the world.
Interestingly, this is increasingly being driven by cricket betting, particularly amongst younger gamblers and avid fans of the Indian national team and thrilling, T20 tournaments such as The Indian Premier League (IPL).
But just how legal is online cricket betting in India? And how can you engage safely in this practice in 2021? Let’s find out!
The Legality of Online Cricket Betting in India
In addition to the immense popularity of cricket in India, the country also saw the number of Internet users hit an estimated 730 million in 2020.
This is contributing to increasingly higher demand for online cricket betting in India, but just how legal is this practice in the digital age?
Typically, sports betting is not widely available offline in India, with gambling of any description only officially legalized in three of the country’s 29 independent states. In Sikkim, for example, there is a state-run casino and numerous local lotteries (as in the case of Goa and Daman), but few of these locations offer direct sports betting opportunities.
The landscape is slightly different in the case of online sports betting, however, as the outdated nature of the federal legislation makes no provision at all for remote wagering.
There is no specific law that prohibits players from seeking out online sportsbooks, while offshore sites are able to legally target interested punters without infringing on any regulations at all.
At the same time, the players themselves can use online cricket betting comparison sites to freely access some of the world’s best international sportsbooks with genuine peace of mind, rather than worrying that they may be subject to financial sanctions imposed by the regulator.
What to Look Forward to in 2021
Not only can you access some of the very best online sportsbooks in India, but there is also a great deal to wager on through the remainder of 2021.
For example, the Indian national team will soon arrive in England for a hotly anticipated five-test match series, with this commencing on August 4th and concluding on September 14th.
Shortly afterward, the delayed IPL is scheduled to resume, following its initial cancellation as a result of rising Covid-19 infections on May 4th. Interestingly, 31 of the 60 league games are yet to be contested, while the Delhi Capitals currently lead the table by two points from the Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore.
Following the conclusion of the IPL in October, the similarly delayed ICC T20 World Cup finally gets underway. Initially scheduled to take place in the summer of 2020 (in Australia), it will now be contested between October 17th and November 14th, with the UAE and Oman now committed to sharing the role of the host nation.
The original plan had been to switch the tournament to India, but the second outbreak of coronavirus cases has once again encouraged the ICC to change their best-laid plans.
Still, it should be an excellent tournament with plenty of action and viable betting markets, and a total of 16 teams competing for the ultimate prize.
Where Can You Wager Safely in India?
As you can read on www.CricketOnlineBetting.in, the online cricket betting market in India is one of the safest imaginable, with the type of international brands operating in the market renowned for maintaining the highest standards in security, transparency, and customer service.
To this end, leading sportsbooks like Casumo and Betway boast 128-bit SSL encryption as a way of safeguarding transaction information, while they deliver 24-hour service across a range of different channels.
Casumo would probably be our number one recommendation, as it utilizes a native cricket betting app that can deliver an optimal wagering experience while minimizing your data usage.
Unibet also offers a viable option to cricket fans, however providing access to a diverse range of betting markets and a welcome bonus up to the value of $2,500.