Gambling Ban in India: Laws, Reality & What You Should Know

This October the Indian government has implemented the new law on online gambling in India. It’s no surprise that the Indian gambling ban will have a huge impact on affiliates’ income, and they are looking for alternatives and exact answers to such questions as “is online betting legal in India?” and other burning issues.

The AffRoom team will shed a light on India’s gambling regulations; we’ll explain the essence of the law, how it’ll influence the affiliates, and which new markets to choose instead of India. 

Is gambling legal in India now? Law explained

In short, no, gambling or any related activities are not legal in India. 

Let’s first see a short historic context. iGaming in India works on state levels: only the states can set the gambling and betting rules.

According to the Federal Public Gambling Act (1867), public gambling platforms were banned, and there was a fine of 200 rupees or even imprisonment up to 3 months. Most states accepted the law and were against gambling (apart from skill games, like chess), apart from Goa, Daman, and Sikkim, where casinos were legal. 

Now, from August 2025, when the new law was accepted, even such exceptions are under a threat—any real-money gaming is prohibited, even if it is skill-based.

What does the new law mean now?

So, now online casinos in India are not legal at all. No one has the right to organize, promote, or participate in real-money gambling. The law prohibits not only iGaming platforms but also any type of promotion, from influencers to targeted ads. 

After its acceptance, all the iGaming platforms had to stop such games and their promotion. What’s more, no real betting or casino game is legal: no state gives out licenses for online betting; even the exceptions mentioned (like casinos in Goa) are now out of law. 

No online casino in India is legal: what does the ban mean for affiliates?

Basically, the new gambling ban means that affiliates are not allowed to target India as a gambling market at all. Even if you’re not in India, targeting Indian users is illegal and can be seen as a crime.

Main risks for affiliates:

• Legal responsibility.
  Gambling offers promotion for an Indian audience can lead to huge fines or criminal prosecution. Big platforms are already watched by legal authorities.
  
• Traffic blocks.
  Regulators are expected to block operator websites and affiliate links, and advertising networks (Facebook, Google, etc.) will tighten the rules. In practice, gambling ads for India will be blocked or suspended. 

• Reputational and financial risks.
  Even if you personally do not live in India, if the prosecutor’s office attacks you, you will face problems with banks and payment systems. Illegal actions may even lead to account suspension.

What are the risks of Gambling ads in India?

Gambling ban in India affects any advertising in the region directly, obviously. Let’s see what to expect in advance.

• Legal issues.
  Now, even displaying banners or links to online casinos/sports bookmakers in India can be regarded as “promoting prohibited activities.” The very fact of advertising may attract the attention of the authorities.

• Platform supervision.
  Due to increased control, major social networks and search engines may automatically ban such ads. Even previously unregulated VPN crawls and demographic targeting do not guarantee security.

• Competitive restrictions.
  Even large offshore companies have long been afraid to advertise publicly in the region: they do not use official Indian domains and cooperate only with trusted partners. Without a strong legal status of the offer, the risks of bans increase.

• Scam offers.
  Against the background of the bans, the number of fake offers (“betting bots,” “guaranteed win games,” etc.) is growing, which are usually backed by scammers. It is easy for a marketer to encounter offers that threaten to ban an affiliate account or reverse traffic.

What are alternative Gambling markets to choose instead of India?

As you understand now, India is no longer an option for driving gambling traffic. Let’s see which legal options you have now as an iGaming affiliate.

It is better to focus on countries with clear regulation of iGaming. For example:

• Europe.
  Most EU countries (Great Britain, Malta, Cyprus, etc.) have been licensing online casinos and betting for a long time. Many major brands operate in these countries, and affiliate programs (UKGC, MGA) are legal and regulated.
• North America.
  The United States (several states—New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Michigan, etc.) has legalized online casinos and betting, although others have banned them. In Canada, the province of Ontario has officially launched online gambling since 2022. 
• Latin America.
  Brazil, which opened a licensed betting market on January 1, 2025, is a prime example. Colombia, Mexico, Argentina, Panama, and others are also regulated. Even if the bonuses are limited by the new rules, the turnover is still huge.
• Asia.
  Pay attention to the Philippines (PAGCOR), where online games are allowed under license, and the Southeast/Resort areas (e.g., Laos/Cambodia—offshore casinos, although online restrictions remain). Georgia, Armenia, and Kazakhstan also have regulated online betting schemes
• Africa.
  Some countries (Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa) have made betting one of the priority markets with mobile-oriented payment systems. The competition is high there, but the audience is huge.

When choosing an offer, it is important to pay attention to the operator’s licenses and certifications. Permitted markets require strict compliance (verification of the identity of players, the availability of responsible gaming tools, etc.). 

Users are increasingly checking the “green ticks” of regulators (UKGC, MGA, PAGCOR, local entities) before trusting the platform. It will be difficult for an affiliate without a licensed partner to legally convert traffic (payments may be blocked, and advertising network accounts may be banned). If the platform has a reputable jurisdiction, the conversion rate is usually higher due to the trust of the players.

FAQ on Gambling ban in India in 2025

1. Is gambling legal in India under current laws?

No, gambling is generally illegal. The federal law (Public Gambling Act, 1867) prohibits casinos and gambling houses, and since October 2025, the new law completely prohibits online gambling for real money throughout the country.

2. Which states have banned gambling entirely?

Total ban (including online activities):

• Telangana
• Andhra Pradesh
• Tamil Nadu
• Maharashtra
• Gujarat
• Bihar

In many others, there are strict restrictions (only state lotteries and horse racing are allowed).

3. Is online gambling allowed anywhere in India?

No, after the law in October 2025 came into effect. Previously, Sikkim and Goa partially allowed Gambling, but now all online games for money are officially banned.

4. What penalties exist for illegal gambling activities?

For participating in or organizing online gambling—up to 3 years in prison and a fine of up to almost 10 million rupees. For advertising or promoting such games—up to 2 years in prison and a fine of up to 5 million rupees.