India set to examine impact of illegal betting apps

India’s highest court will examine the possibility of placing a blanket ban on sports  and gambling betting apps, despite their popularity across the country of nearly 1.5 billion. 

The Supreme Court has agreed it will examine a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) which demands a ban on illegal betting apps and stricter regulations around online gambling and daily fantasy sports programs. 

Many sports betting sites accept Indians but are licensed in places like Curacao and Malta, and ultimately don’t pay tax in the sub-continent. 

Sports betting and online gaming have long collided with Indian culture and religion, despite it being exceptionally popular right across the country. 

T20 cricket competitions like the Indian Premier League and various international sports have huge amounts of Rupee bet on them, with popular offshore bookmaker Stake.com revealing they had over $100million USD wagered on the six week tournament 

Supreme Court Justices Surya Kant and N.K. Singh have agree to hear the case, which will highlight the concerns of the social and financial impact of unregulated gambling. 

The PIL states sports betting is a game of chance and not one of skill, meaning it should fall under the Public Gambling Act of 1867, which would ultimately ban it in many Indian states. 

Anti-gambling campaigners in India believe the absence of federal legislation surrounding online betting and gambling, states are left with with little choice, but to allow betting apps to flourish. 

The Supreme Court of India recently began hearing a case surrounding the taxation of gambling and games of skill, which are both likely to come up in this case, as India wrestles with a digital future.

Online gambling has long been a flashpoint in Indian culture but for much of the rest of the world it is viewed as an untapped goldmine.