Indian casino players must choose online casinos without an Indian license when gambling online. They find offshore casinos that provide them with the features, games, bonuses, security, and mobile payments Indians want. There are few things that Indian casinos licensed offshore with a casino license from a leading regulatory body like the UK Gambling Commission cannot provide. The very best Indian casinos online offer customer support in Hindi to Indian payment methods and rupee currency.
It’s no surprise that new gamblers choose casinos online without an Indian casino license and feel at ease doing so. When you take into account there is no Indian casino license available to gambling operators, it becomes easy to understand why offshore casinos licensed overseas, in the UK, Malta or Curacao, hold the key for savvy casino players wishing to gamble from India.
This article explores the current Indian online gambling laws and guides you towards the top gambling authorities for Indian players online. You can find logos on the footers of online casinos. We examine the UK Gambling Commission license, Malta’s MGA license, and Curacao’s license. We also get to grips with why you should avoid foreign casinos without a proper license from a leading regulatory body.
Current state of play in India
Offline gambling at land-based casinos is outlawed by most Indian states, but there is currently no law against online gambling so you can bet online from most states legally. As a result of India’s online gambling loophole, top overseas casino operators entered the Indian gaming market from offshore companies.
According to the Public Gambling Act (1867), all kinds of gambling in India are illegal, But unlike in the US where there is the American Internet Gambling Prohibition Act, no specific laws exist in the Indian system that bar online gambling. Pachnanda Vikrant, an advocate of Delhi high court and MD of Indian Law journal stated.
The government of Sikkim’s Finance and Revenue expenditure department in 2009 published a memorandum that is seen as Sikkam online gambling ordinances. This listed regulations for gaming licenses within the State. 2010 saw the state of Sikkim pushed for the authorisation of online gaming in India. This slumped and since 2010 there has been an increase in the use of online casinos in India.
Although the number of Indians gambling online at casinos is exponential, currently there are no online casinos are operating in India. Those sites/Apps that do offer gambling products to Indians from offshore bases set up in other countries such as the UK, Malta, Sweden, or Spain for other European countries for example.
It seems like there are hundreds of online casinos for Indian players who love to play slots, live table games, and more. The reason for there being multiple operators with Indian-focused sites/Apps is because there little regulation online and no regulation means that there is no limit with regards to the number of offshore casinos that can provide online gambling for the Indian gaming market. If you are an Indian wanting a casino accepting Rupees as payment currency you can find one in an instant with a hefty bonus to boot!
Also, casino slot providers like NetEnt are now developing Indian-themed games for the Indian market. If Classic Indian casino Games take your fancy, you will find cult classics such as Teen Patti and Andar Bahar available online for Indians to play at the drop of a hat.
Top gambling authorities for Indians online
In order for any online casino company (operator or software gaming provider) to operate legally on the web, they must hold a valid license from an online gambling regulator. According to a recent study, there are two key regulators; the UK’s Gambling Commission (UKGC) and the Maltese Gaming Authority (MGA). Both of these regulators have a very strong reputation with European players and take a no-nonsense approach when it comes to licensing. They ensure all of their licensees adhere to strict rules and regulations - and when it comes to the regulation of slots for online casino their rules are in-depth. Let’s take a look at the top gambling authorities in more detail.
The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC)
The UK Gambling Commission, or UKGC, is a highly respected gaming authority. The Commission starred on 1 September 2007 and has some of the strictest requirements in the world. This regulatory body polices casinos, sportsbooks, and lotteries operating in the UK.
It’s possible to play at UK-licensed casinos from India. Because of the large amount of advanced regulation with UKGC casinos, it makes them the safest option for Indian gamblers. It is no surprise that most Indian gamblers look for a UK Gambling Commission casino site/App when playing casino online.
Malta Gaming Authority (MGA)
The Malta Gaming Authority, or MGA, is located on the sunny Mediterranean island of Malta. The MGA was formed in 2001 to regulate various sectors of the gambling industry. The current CEO of the MGA is Carl Brincat.
Historically, most online casinos had an MGA license and it became the largest gaming authority in the industry with huge growth periods followed by recent heavy regulation. Very often companies opted for a UKGC license and a Malta Gaming Authority license to target different countries. Although recently the MGA license has been diluted with Sweden and Germany regulating.
MGA casinos are known to be a safe bet for Indian casino players gambling from India on mobile, tablet, or PC. They provide a large number of benefits to Indian players, much in the same vein as UKGC casinos. The reason for this is because Malta tends to mirror what their commonwealth neighbor does in terms of regulation.
Indian players choosing an MGA Casino can expect fair player conditions. Most MGA casinos offer support in British English and Hindi language. Increasingly MGA casinos accept rupees currency. Before gambling from India at an MGA licensed casino, we suggest you do a little more research to find out more about the casino via our review pages to see if it’s the right choice for you.
Curacao e-Gaming license
Last but not least is the Curacao license which has been in operation since 1996 - making it one of the oldest licensing authorities in the world. Controlled from the Dutch Caribbean island of Curacao, today Curacao is the biggest online gambling regulator in the world.
A large number of online casinos targetting Asia and India choose to get these licenses because they are easy to get and Curacao hand out licenses like sweets; they’re cheap and operators have very few hurdles to jump through to acquire a license versus the UK license for example.
Although a Curacao license is easier to get than a UK or MGA license, they are the same in that they regulate a large number of gaming activities including table games, slots, sports betting, virtual sports, and lotteries albeit in multiple territories of an exotic nature.
The good thing about a Curacao licensed Indian casino is that these sites will often offer large bonuses and will take rupee currency more often than not. Usually, they will have British English and Hindi language support available on their site, making it easy for Indian players with casino queries.
However, we urge you to adopt a buyer beware approach because the amount of player protection through Curacao licensed Indian casinos is leaves a lot to be desired in comparison with UK or MGA casinos. Another thing to be aware of is that Curacao has a very poor track record of checking up on their licensees day to day activities.
Others
Some less common regulators you might find when browsing online casinos in India include the Alderney Gambling Control Commission, the Gambling Supervision Commission (Isle of Man), the Jersey Gambling Commission, and the Kahnawake Gaming Commission. All these have a good reputation so your rupees are safe as houses here.
It is worth knowing that some countries also have their own specific regulators like the Belgian Gambling Commission, the Danish Gambling Authority, ARJEL (France), the Spanish Gaming Commission, and the AAMS (Italy).
Elsewhere, Germany’s regulatory framework for gambling is set to be implemented, after the state parliaments in Schleswig-Holstein and Sachsen ratified the treaty. We are all ears to see when India’s regulatory framework will get the green light!
Why you should avoid online casinos without a proper license from a leading regulatory body
There are some gambling operators who opt not to get a valid casino license from a leading regulated jurisdiction like the UK Gambling Commission, Malta or Curacao. Many were not happy with the rules and restrictions that are in place and did not feel it was worth the time and effort to get a license.
The cost of getting good licenses is high, and recently profits have diminished because of harsh rules and laws surrounding advertising in regulated regions, bonuses, and more. Indian players still have the option of using online casinos without a proper license. Although you won’t find unlicensed casinos on this site they do exist and are happy to accept your money and wager.
Many online gambling companies did apply for licenses but were rejected. Because companies do not need to be licensed in India these casinos are not entirely unlicensed and some are licensed by foreign gaming authorities.
At the end of the day, if you do choose to gamble from India at a casino with UK/MGA or Curacao understand you are doing so at your own risk. Do not deposit too much and be aware because these operations have a reputation for changing terms and conditions overnight!
Bottom line - Know the licensing of the casino you choose to gamble with
When you are searching for a casino, make sure that you understand what licensing they have and that you know the rules and regulations you can expect when gambling from India.
We strongly recommend you play slots at online casinos licensed by the UKGC or the MGA. Follow our guidelines and you’ll be playing casino safely in a fair environment online. With operators like 10Cric, you can guarantee all of the casino games you’re playing are fair towards Indian players and regulated, thanks to the strict gambling commission rules - whether they are free slots or real-money games accepting rupees.
Although not all of the regulatory requirements will be carried over to the Indian territory, it is a safer bet to gamble with a casino with a UK, MGA or Curacao license than a casino without a license altogether.
It is a good idea to take the time to learn more about the casino and its reputation before you decide on whether to sign up and gamble there or not.
Unfortunately, not all gambling regulators are created equal so be warned.
Deposit options and bonuses in local currency are often an important part of the experience of joining a casino. Enjoying rupee bonuses, free spins, and loyalty programs are one of the big draws for online casinos together with a UK license or failing that an MGA or Curacao license.