When you talk about gambling most people think of the Las Vegas strip. A city known for its bright neon lights accompanied by the sound of slot machines sucking players from all over the world. You rarely think of the subcontinent and India in particular when it comes to online betting, but this is changing. Betting in India and especially online cricket betting has been adopted by more and more Indians.
What was once considered taboo and subject to strict rules and regulations is now widely accepted by the public. In this article, we take a look at three main reasons that led to the resurgence of online cricket betting in India that gave rise to betting sites in India.
Will cricket betting be legalized?
Online betting in India is governed by the Public Act of 1867. By law, all activities involving gambling are prohibited. Those caught gambling are first fined and then jailed. Over the years, however, the government has placed the responsibility on individual states to decide the fate of gambling in their jurisdictions.
States like Kerala and Goa have welcomed online gambling with open arms and are enjoying the extra income that these activities bring. On the other hand, you have states like: Karnataka which have a zero tolerance policy when it comes to all forms of betting. That said, the meteoric rise of online gamblers in India is a sign that the country is on track to legalize sports betting in the future.
Rise of smartphones in India
Another major reason for the increase in gambling activity relates to the falling prices of smartphones in India. Ten years ago, if you were to bet on cricket in India, you would have to do it on your desktop or visit an internet cafe. Both places meant you were never really alone when placing bets on your favorite matches. With the falling prices of smartphones and the variety of handsets, you can now bet privately. There are many betting apps available like Parimatch or Dafabet Sports&Casino.
This can be at home, in the office or even on the train on the way to work. Betting sites in india are capitalizing on this trend, offering customers mobile optimized sites to make the art of placing a bet as simple as possible. With more and more Indians choosing to spend time on the phone, it’s no surprise that gambling-related activities will also increase.
Other sports becoming more popular
Cricket is not the only sport every Indian think of though, football has also become more and more popular. With streaming services like YouTube showcasing the talents of football players from different countries and clubs, Indians are following this sport now more than ever.
The more sports they follow, the more opportunities they have to place bets on their favorite matches. Once IPL ends, Indians will now have options to place bets on the English Premier League or La Liga, which means there will always be a game taking place at any given time where they can bet.
