The online gambling industry (also often referred to as the iGaming industry), which encompasses sports betting, casino and poker games, is booming in India.
The trusted operators of real money gambling sites are licensed to offer real money gambling services to people living in India, and they must pay a Goods and Service Tax (GST tax).
What is the current GST for gambling operators in India?
For an operator to offer real money games of chance in India, which includes table and card games and other casino games (e.g., online slot machines, poker, roulette, blackjack, dice, and other lottery-style instant win games), they must pay a 28% Goods and Service (GST) tax on the total value of each stake, which is chargeable under what is known as HSN 999692.
It was proposed that all betting sites that legally operate within Indian borders must pay this to conform with Indian laws. Other betting companies, such as sports betting, horses, casinos, and racing, only pay 18%. However, this could also soon be raised to 28%.
What are the best sports betting & casino sites in India?
The good news is that there are many licensed sports betting casinos to choose from, and they are all controlled by some of the industry’s most trusted names. In other words, the companies that own these sites have proven track records and solid reputations.
The best fully licensed sports betting sites that people living in India can access from any modern smartphone, tablet, laptop or desktop computer with internet/Wi-Fi connectivity are the following highly recommended sites (in no particular order of importance):
Honourable mentions
If you’re looking for somewhere else to play that’s equally trustworthy, then you also have Bet365, ComeOn, and BetTilt, to name just a few.
Inside each review is a secure external link that redirects you to each website’s official sign-up page. You must be at least 18 years old to sign up to these sites, and you will find that many of them have a variety of licensed gambling products to choose from.
In other words, they have sports betting markets with competitive odds for over 50 of today’s major global sports and live dealer casino games and over 1,000 regular online casino games.
What makes these sites better than others?
They accept several popular Indian online payment solutions that enable you to process secure deposits and withdrawals, and they are all protected by the highest levels of SSL (Secure Socket Layer) encryption technology.
This means that your funds, banking details and personal information are always kept safe and out of reach of hackers and other unscrupulous con artists.
Also, they have obtained the necessary online gambling licenses from some of today’s most reputable licensing authorities.
For example, it’s common to find many sites today licensed in various top-tier and mid-tier licensing jurisdictions, such as the United Kingdom, Curacao, Alderney, the Isle of Man, Gibraltar, Malta, New Jersey, or Kahnawake, to name just a few.
Are there welcome bonuses for new players?
Yes. All of the gambling sites mentioned above currently have a guaranteed sign-up bonus (aka welcome bonus) for all new players. Better still, the wagering requirements attached to the bonuses are among the lowest in the industry.
You can generally claim your initial sign-up bonus once your new account has been activated, and usually only on your first real money deposit.
The welcome bonus could include a free bet, free spins for selected slots, or a matching deposit bonus worth up to a certain amount. The exact bonus varies somewhat from one site to the next.
Final note
All of these sites accept Indian Rupee, and the most popular online banking methods for Indians currently accepted are Visa, MasterCard, AstroPay, Jeton, Paytm, Skrill, NETELLER, Paysafecard, and direct bank transfers.
When you sign up to one of these sites, remember to gamble responsibly and never spend more money than you can afford. One of the best ways to better manage your bankroll would be to set deposit limits.
Also, try not to chase your losses because this may result in losing more of your hard-earned cash, and try not to think of placing sports bets or playing casino games as a way to make an income.
