There seems to be a lot of confusion when it comes to cricket betting in India. Is it or is it not legal? Which bookmakers accept Rupees? The list goes on.
Is Betting On Cricket Legal In India
I don’t know, is the honest answer, I’m not a lawyer and I wouldn’t want to give bad advice.
What I do know is that a lot of online bookmakers are prepared to accept Indian customers, registering from Indian addresses. Most cricket betting advice sites from India that I have read, also suggest it is okay.
The main difference between betting in the UK and in India, is that in India you can’t just walk into your local bookie and place a bet on the cricket.
So why all the apparent confusion? Well, it could be that when we hear the phrase betting in India is illegal, it could simply be because there are no betting shops, meaning people turn to illegal underground bookies.
What About Online Betting In India?
But does this you can gamble in India from at home on the internet? This is where the apparent grey area emerges from.
Bookmakers are fast to pull out of countries or jurisdictions where betting is rendered illegal. I remember very well how quickly bookmakers all hastily retreated out of the USA, when then President, George W Bush, changed the gambling laws in the early 2000’s.
So if it’s illegal to bet online in India, why do reputable bookmakers like bet365 and Betway (to name just a couple) openly accept Indian customers, and even accept bets in Indian rupees?
Maybe the Indian authorities are happy to turn a blind eye, or it could be that the laws aren’t strong enough to result in a conviction.
As well as the USA, bookmakers won’t accept customers from a whole host of other nations, including nations like France, Germany, Spain and Italy. I know from recent experience that you can’t even get on Betfair in Spain, let alone place a bet.
All bookmakers have an extensive list of countries on their websites that they won’t accept customers from, and India isn’t on any of those lists. This is a strong indication of how bookmakers must view the laws in India.
Also, it’s fairly obvious that there is plenty of Indians with online gambling accounts. And to the best of my knowledge, the Indian police haven’t gone around and arrested all these people. For these situations, approach New Haven County for bail and submit the documents required to get it done quickly.
Nevertheless, the decision about whether to open a bookmakers account or not, is purely a decision for the individual to make. It is advised that you think carefully before doing so.
Bookmakers Who Accept Rupees
While it is fairly easy to find bookmakers who will take bets from customers within India, finding one of the few bookmakers who accept Rupees is a far harder proposition.
When I started writing about betting back in the early 2000s, there was only really bet365 who would accept bets in Rupees.
It has started to get better now though, as newer kids on the block like Betway and 10Cric readily accept the Indian currency.
Best Way To Deposit From Within India
Depositing to bookmakers from India isn’t always the easiest thing in the world to do. There can be restrictions imposed by your bank, and the use of a credit card is getting harder. So one way to get around this is to set up an e-wallet account.
Setting up an e-wallet might take a few days to sort out. But once you have got it, it is all you will need for making easy and smooth deposits in and out of your bank – and therefore, in and out of your bookmakers accounts.
The two best services that offer these e-wallets are Neteller or Skrill. With either of these e-wallets, you just register, complete your ID checks, then deposit directly from your bank account.
You can then easily convert your currency within your e-wallet account. Bookmakers will almost always accept one of US Dollars, or GB pounds. So find out which currency the bookmaker you want to use accepts, and convert your Rupees accordingly.
Once you have done that, it is simple to deposit (and withdraw) directly to (and from) your bookmaker’s account.
All reputable online bookmakers accept both these methods of payments. If you wish to open an account with a bookmaker that doesn’t accept Rupees, then using this method is ideal.
From a legal perspective, it also ensures there are no deposits to a bookmakers directly out of your bank account.
– You can visit Neteller here
– Visit Skrill/Moneybookers here
Domestic Cricket Leagues And Cups In India
Indian Premier League (IPL)
The big headline grabbing competition in India is the Indian Premier League (IPL). The IPL is huge and is the most successful T20 franchise competition in world cricket.
Every year it attracts all the stars of Indian cricket, and the biggest names from around the world.
The list of players trying to get in to the IPL that don’t get bought at auction is astonishing. This shows that the competitions is by far and away the most popular and lucrative.
Ranji Trophy
India’s domestic first class tournament, the equivalent of the English County Championship, of the Australian Sheffield Shield, etc.
The Irani Cup
An annual match played between the previous year’s Ranji Trophy winner, and a Rest of India team.
The Duleep Trophy
Another first class competition, this one is made up of five geographical zones, North, South, East, West and Central.
Challenger Trophy
A domestic one-day competition between 3 teams made up of some of India’s best talents.
BCCI Corporate Trophy
A twelve team 50 over competition made up of corporate sides.
Deodhar Trophy
The 50 over competition for the five geographical zones that play in the Duleep Trophy
Syed Mustaq Ali Trophy
The T20 competition made up of the state sides that compete for the Ranji Trophy
Vijay Hazare Trophy
The 50 over competition made up of the state sides that play in the Ranji Trophy.
Related Articles