1xBet is an online betting platform like Bet365. It allows users to bet on an extensive range of sports events. A large number of people in India are betting on online sports events using this app. Nevertheless, a large number of people also wonder, if Bet365 is legal in India? Some of you might also be wondering if 1xBet is legal in India or not?
Let’s take a look at 5 reasons why 1xBet is legal in India and safe to bet.
1. Online Betting Laws in India
Even though the online betting laws in India are specific, there are laws that you can apply for this activity.
The Public Gambling Act of 1867 and the Indian Contract Act of 1872 prohibits gambling and wagering contracts in a public place. Nevertheless, the law dating back to the nineteenth century doesn’t have coverage over online betting activities under the defined set of prohibited activities.
The IT Act 2000 is the regulatory law for all cyber activities taking place on Indian soil. Nevertheless, the act doesn’t talk about the world of betting or gambling. Hence, sites like Bet365, 1xBet, Casumo, or ComeOn Casino are out of the coverage of the act. Therefore, Bet365 is legal in India without any doubt.
The states have the authority to create and regulate their own laws for online betting. Until now, just two Indian States have established laws for the same. Maharashtra has banned online activities under The Bombay Wager Act. But states like Sikkim have allowed online gambling. The scope of permission is restricted to the state’s geographical boundaries. Therefore, 1xBet is legal in India as per the current laws in the country.
22Bet which is a 100% Legal website is offering fantastic bonuses to its customers. Read our Review of 22Bet India to know more.
2. Not a Game of Chance
The Indian Laws classify sports events into two groups. While one is allowed to operate, the other is prohibited.
- Game of Skills: According to this law, the events whose outcome can be obtained by using skills performed by someone involved as stakeholders aren’t considered as gambling.
- Game of Chance of Luck: The act whose outcome is largely determined by the effect of the probability of luck for the party involved is taken to be as gambling. Such an act is considered to be illegal in the country.
Nevertheless, the status of games as games of luck or skill is still debatable as sports share similar characteristics in both categories.
But the latest update from legal authorities on betting suggests the legalization of gambling and betting activities in India. It also recommends that these activities need to be conducted in a regulated environment. As per the commission, a complete boycott of these activities isn’t generating the required outcome.
So, if you are thinking, 1xBet is legal in India like Bet365, you should know that it should be according to the law commission.
3. Indian Laws vs. Local Laws
Another reason why sites like Bet365 and 1xBet haven’t been banned from India is that these sites aren’t based in India. The websites are located in the United Kingdom and don’t come under Indian jurisdiction. However, the Indian gambling laws are only applicable to the platforms that are based in India. Therefore, 1xBet is legal in India as it is based in the UK.
For instance, if you are from India, and you are flying to England for a tour or business, and indulge in betting on different sports events, you aren’t breaking the law as betting is just allowed in England.
Nevertheless, if the bet had been placed in India and had the betting site been placed in India, the individual would be breaking the anti-gambling laws in India. So, 1xBet is legal in India if you are betting online and not indulging in physical gambling.
4. Eluding the Foreign Exchange Management Act
You might ask, is Indian players betting on overseas betting sites using Indian Rupees, can be penalized or not?
Well, the thing is, there is a lot of ambiguity in regard to Indian gambling laws. With the introduction of online betting platforms, Indians have now started enjoying smooth betting without getting into a conflict with the law.
Previously, betting sites used to accept debit and credit cards from Indian banks. However, in a bid to kill gambling in India, the government has banned this. Thus, few betting sites do not accept credit or debit cards from India. This is the fault of the Indian government.
In order to bypass this problem, betting sites have come up with virtual money. Hence, Indian gamblers have started converting their money to digital wallet money to bet. A few e-wallets accept Indian currency. Thus, it makes gambling easier for them. Thus, you can use digital wallets like PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, EcoPayZ, AstroPay, and more to easily bet on your favorite sport. With so many digital wallets allowing to place bets, doesn’t it make sense that 1xBet is legal in India?
5. Well Licensed
It is an offshore betting site that gets its license from an offshore license provider. With customers growing every year, the platform has or a million registered customers from different parts of the globe. Bet365 is licensed and regulated under MGA. This is one of the top license-providing bodies. It doesn’t easily give out a license without performing proper checks.
Since it gets a license from an offshore license provider and is based in the UK, you can be sure that Bet365 is legal in India. Similarly, you can place your bets on 1xBet as well.
The Future of Betting in Bet365 and 1xBet
The future of the gambling industry depends on the lawmakers of India. A stringent law against online gambling platforms will cease the operations of online betting sectors in India.
It will be interesting enough to see the result in case the lawmakers intervene in the present prospect. At present, several startups are using the loophole that is available. The startups aren’t just mushrooming in the betting platforms but also in the digital wallet, for facilitating the former. This is only because entrepreneurs know that bet365 is legal in India, so they are building new startups in the field of online betting.
Bottom Line
It can be concluded that Indian laws when it comes to gambling and betting, are discretionary and ambiguous in nature. At present, online betting is neither illegal nor legal in India. Indians can take part in online gambling until there is a law that counters the same.
The online gambling industry is a large one and it keeps growing by the day. Nevertheless, some laws might try to suffocate the industry. Most of the laws had been formulated even before the internet had come into play.
So, Bet365 and 1xBet can rightfully offer their betting services to the punters of India. This is because even if the local Indian laws admonish gambling, Bet365 and 1xBet do not operate on Indian soil. They are located in countries that allow sports betting. Therefore, we can say that Bet365 is legal in India.