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Contents
What Is Online Gambling
Online gambling generally means the use of internet to place bets and earn money. It is similar to playing in a casino but the difference is that it is held in a virtual environment.
This includes playing of poker, sport games, casino games, etc. Users can place bets through online payment modes such as credit, debit card, internet banking or UPI (most preferred). After placing a bet, wins or losses are paid or collected accordingly.
Online Gaming vs Online Gambling
There is a very thin line between online gaming and online gambling. Multiplayer gaming is a fun and leisure activity which is a way to spend time (virtually) with your loved ones. However, gambling is betting money against each other and involves a monetary transaction between players. Most of the online games and online cricket id are free and do not require any money to play whereas online gambling requires users to bet (pay) first and then play the game. Online gaming requires knowledge and skills to play. The gameplay involves coming up with solution which are posed by developers of the game. Whereas gambling mostly relies on luck and probability.
Online Gambling Legal in India?
Gambling laws in India are confusing. This is because of the unclear distinction between ‘games of skills’ and ‘games of chance’.
According to Indian laws, betting on games of chance is illegal whereas betting on games of skill is legal. It’s tricky to determine whether a game falls under a chance or skill categories.
The ruling by Supreme Court holds that rummy cannot be classified as a game of chance like three-card games such as flush and brag. This is because rummy needs players to have a certain level of skill particularly when it comes to memorisation, reports The Citizen. Therefore, any game that requires a gamer to have a particular skill set is legal.
However, gambling apps remain at the mercy of payment platforms and state governments which can block a certain app stating ‘legislative ambiguity’.