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The Ins and Outs of Online Gambling in India: Laws and Legislation Explained

Published

5 years ago

May 27, 2021

Needless to say, the online gambling industry has dominated the world by storm. In a nutshell, gaming industries from across the globe are thriving. In particular, the Indian market has experienced significant growth throughout the last couple of years. More and more players are trying their hand out at casino games and just in general experience what the gambling world has to offer.

Whether they’re raising their stakes at floating casinos in India, abroad or online, Indian players have expressed a keen interest in gambling. This is illustrated in some stats and figures; by the end of 2020, the Indian market generated over 90 billion in Indian Rupees.

Whilst all this sounds great, there is one issue that India has been dealing with for years. Even though we are living in 2021, Indian lawmakers still abide by ancient gambling laws, some of which are over 154 years old! So, what does this mean for players and casino operators?

An Insight into India’s Gambling Laws

With reference to the Indian Constitution, it is stated that all forms of gambling are regulated at state level. In other words, this mean that each Indian state has its own laws and legislations when it comes to gambling, particularly when it comes to online casino games. Needless to say, players and operators aren’t happy about this since it’s severely impacting the industry.

This all boils down to one thing. As mentioned in earlier sections of this post, India remains stuck in the past as far as gambling rules are concerned. A prime example of this is the Public Gaming Act of 1867. This 134 legislative document was published during the British role. Evidently, such documents don’t make sense now that most of us have witnessed the advent of the internet and the continuous developments made in the technological field.

But alas, Indian lawmakers beg to differ. Let’s take a look at some statements in the Public Gaming Act of 1867. For starters, the operation of Indian casinos is strictly prohibited. So, is the assisting and visiting of these venues. On top of that, financial gambling, devices and anything remotely related to gambling is also forbidden. In fact, you can face a ₹200 fine or even face up to 3 months in prison.

The Act also defines gambling into two separate categories – Games of Chance and Games of Skill. The problem with this lies here – one cannot completely class a casino game as a Game of Skill or Chance. This is because certain games have hints of both skill and chance.

At the time of writing, India has identified only 13 card games as games of skill, including rummy and poker. As far as online betting goes, horse racing and cricket betting also fall under this category. Without a doubt, lots of reforms are in order if lawmakers want to see the industry really thrive in the years to come.

The Problem with Online Gambling

All this brings us to the main topic of this discussion – online gambling in India. Evidently, there is a dire need for more sensible laws to be imposed. Since lawmakers are still adamant to stick to incredibly archaic laws, this is causing a lot of problems for casino operators who want to set up shop in India.

What’s even more surprising is that all these acts and laws don’t even given an appropriate definition to what online gambling is. As of now, only states like Nagaland, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh have chosen to update their anti-gambling policies. On top of that, they have also stated where they stand with online gambling. So far, it’s not good news.

Very recently, the state of Andhra Pradesh published its Gaming Ordinance. Initially, casino operators thought this would benefit them, but once again they couldn’t be more wrong. In other words, if you’re an operator, you can rule out the possibility of having online casinos set up in this state for the time being. On top of that, the ordinance has also issued a ban on all online games including games of skill. Of course, casino operators aren’t very happy about this and rightly so. In fact, they plan on appealing this at the Supreme Court.

That said, there is some good news to report here. As of now, the Supreme Court of Andhra Pradesh has stated that games of skill aren’t really linked to gambling and operators who offer these services are allowed to do us under the Indian Constitution.

Still, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows for casino operators who want to offer casino games and services in the country. In fact, operators have had to deal with more acts such as the Information Technology Act of 2000. Given that it’s all about gambling one would think that the government is actually thinking about adequate solutions that would make both parties happy.

But alas, we’re back in square one. This act caused more harm than good as the blocking servers restricted operators from offering their services to Indian players. What’s more, we also have yet another example where no appropriate definition is given to online gambling. Let’s face it, the world is living and breathing gambling at this point. After all the industry is worth billions nowadays – so how can one not explain what online gambling is? The mind boggles.

We understand that lawmakers want to curb the rise of unregulated gambling from dodgy casinos, however, sticking to ancient laws will cause more problems in the long run.

Players Can Still Enjoy the Online Casino World

That said, there is a silver lining. Whilst operators still have to long road ahead of them, players can still enjoy their time online. In fact, you’ll find lots of reputable providers listed on Casinos-india.in. Given that this is an affiliate partner, the games and bonuses are obviously not offered by them. Instead, you are offered trusted offshore casino partners that are legally allowed to offer their services to Indian players.

As you can see, things aren’t so bad for players. That said, there are still some regulations you should keep in mind. Whilst you are required by law to choose an offshore licensed platform, it’s still your safest bet. In this way, you can avoid getting scammed by dodgy providers that still manage to slip through the cracks even though the situation is heavily regulated. Trust us when we say that rogue casinos offer rigged games and you’ll probably never get your winnings. In other words, avoid at all costs.

You can sign up to platforms that clearly state that they are licensed by reputable gaming bodies such as the Malta Gaming Authority.

One also has to keep in mind the legal gambling age. In this case, it’s generally 18 and over. However, some online casinos will require to be over 21 years of age. So, make sure you read all the Terms and Conditions carefully when you track down your desired provider. Finally, you can also join an offshore casino if it is Rupee-friendly. You can also avail from alternatives that allow conversions.

The Benefits of Legalizing Online Casinos

At this point, it’s fair to say that Indian gambling laws are all over the place. We can only hope that the situation changes over time. At the end of the day, the market and India in general can benefit from the legalizing and regulation of online casinos.

Whilst we acknowledge that there is a problem with unregulated gambling, the right regulations can mark a significant change in the way things are carried out in the country. Strict laws that don’t make sense will not solve anything; on the contrary, these will cause of more uproars by casino operators and in general more confusion. Simply put, the country needs to stick to one legislation that is able to fully regulate and license games of skill. The laws in place can then be supported by further regulations created by gaming bodies.

Given that Indian players are allowed to sign up to offshore platforms, lawmakers should consider making it official in India. In this way, India will get more recognition, whilst players can get a taste of the best online casino games, bonuses and more. Above everything else, they’ll still be signing up to safe and secure platforms that do things by the book.

Of course, a complete reform is needed when it comes to online gambling. That said, some progress has been made. For example, in states like Maharashtra, casino operators and lawmakers are constantly in talks with regard to how they can legalize and regulate online gambling. At this point, nothing is confirmed, but it’s a start.

In the long run, we really think that India can benefit form a regulated market. In fact, some statistics suggest that the country is losing over $140 million per year due to unregulated gambling. This can be solved if both casino operators and lawmakers can come to an agreement on how to offer a licensed and regulated market.

At the time of writing, the growth behind India’s online gambling market is driven by the middle class and the continuous development of the internet and advanced technologies. With a 50% penetration rate, there are 560 million internet users in the country. Needless to say, this is great considering India is in second place after China.

All we’ll say is don’t understatement the Indian market even though it’s one of the smaller ones. Clearly, it’s making it’s mark on the world and it’s very obvious that casino operators and players are keen. Keep in mind that this is something that wasn’t available in the past. Of course, lifestyles became more comfortable over the years. This also meant that people started expressing an interest in different things – online casino is one of them.

Legalizing online casinos will also offer more jobs. Without a doubt, this would be extremely beneficial to India since the country can compete within this competitive market. This can open more doors to more start-up businesses within the e-Commerce and iGaming sectors. On top of that, the Indian economy will also benefit from all this. Other job opportunities can also crop up if this is done properly. Some of these include employment within software development companies and online payments.

At the end of the day, a regulated market will not only put lawmakers’ minds at rest, but it also creates a safe space for players and operators who just want to do things by the book. This can be achieved if one carries out regular audits of casino operators that have been approved and regulated by the government.

This is the only way that the situation can be monitored and one is able to distinguish a good casino from a bad one.

Without a doubt, the interest in the online gambling world won’t be dying away any time soon. So let’s hope Indian lawmakers can get on board with more adequate regulations that make sense in this day and age.

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N1 Brand Series: RollXO — Brand Breakdown & Traffic Setups

Published

2 days ago

June 4, 2026

Master Editor

Picked a brand but not sure how to turn your traffic into profit? Looking for really working bundles? Want to understand the iGaming product better in order to scale efficiently?

N1 Partners team has launched N1 Brand Series — practical product reviews from experts with a focus on real working approaches, metrics, and peculiarities.

This article is dedicated to RollXO — read how to get the most out of the brand!

RollXO: product review

RollXO focuses on modern user experience, a wide range of game content, fast onboarding of players, a user-friendly interface and a diverse bonus program.

Brand: RollXO
GEO: AU, NZ, AT, DE, CA, CH, IE
Main vertical: casino, betting
Target audience: users aged 25-55 interested in online casinos, slots and live games, focused on a fast and convenient gaming experience

Player value: ease of use, quick access to games, bonuses and promo mechanics
Features / advantages: simple and fast registration form, user-friendly UX, a wide selection of slots and live games, as well as the speed of deposits/withdrawals and regular promos

Reg2Dep:
PPC 40-55%
FB: 25-35%
SEO: 40-45%
Retention Rate: 25-35%
LTV: up to 1500 EUR

Conversion and user behaviour

Conversion is influenced by traffic quality and relevance, registration speed, first deposit bonuses, the convenience of payment methods, and the level of trust in the product.

For retention at RollXO, the most effective tools are personalized bonuses, VIP/loyalty programs, as well as communication through SMS, push notifications, in-app messages, email, stories, and inbox channels with continuous updates of gaming content.

After the first deposit, player behavior largely depends on their initial experience: some continue actively following promotions through communication channels, while others engage with on-site offers within the product itself, such as promotions, tournaments, bonus offers, and other mechanics available on the website.

Bonus policy

The RollXO brand uses a variety of bonus mechanisms: welcome and reload bonuses, free spins, free bets, cashback, VIP/loyalty rewards, lotteries, tournaments, loot boxes, wheel of fortune, a bonus shop, and limited-time promotions.

Best-converting: simple and easy-to-understand bonuses that provide clear value to the player — enhanced welcome bonuses, free spins, cashback, and personalised offers.

Less effective: complex mechanics with unclear conditions or overloaded/insufficient communication.

Common mistakes: overly long communication texts without specific details or clear bonus requirements. In addition, an excessive volume of promotional communications can lead to lower player engagement.

Creatives and traffic types

At RollXO, creatives that focus on clear and specific value propositions perform best, for example, those that highlight a bonus or reward. It is also important to adapt creatives to the specific GEO, audience, and gaming preferences.

Creatives overloaded with bonuses perform poorly: three or more bonuses displayed on a small image can confuse players and discourage them from engaging with such communications. Additionally, the effectiveness of creatives declines over time if visuals and offers are not refreshed.

The most effective traffic sources depend on the region, creative quality, and audience-product fit. The primary channels are SEO, PPC, Influence, and Facebook.

Top 3 traffic setups for RollXO

Setup #1

This setup pays for itself due to the high quality of traffic. Despite a potentially high deposit cost (slightly above average), it can deliver strong results and attract an active audience.

Traffic Source: Facebook
GEO: AU
Page Type: PWA
Approach: The creative is built around the Dragon Train slot. Large multipliers x15 / x10 / x5 appear on the screen from the very first seconds, drawing attention to the possibility of a significant win.

The lower part of the creative displays the new player bonus as well as the payment methods available for making a deposit.

Why it works: A static creative with a clear visual structure. The game and bonus are immediately visible, while all key information can be understood within 1-2 seconds without unnecessary visual noise.
Risks / Limitations: Potentially higher deposit cost.

Setup #2

This approach can attract a broader audience, while its key advantage is a significantly lower deposit cost compared to average benchmarks.

If acquisition costs can be maintained at a low level, this approach can work effectively for scaling and blending traffic with higher-quality audiences.

Traffic Source: Facebook
GEO: NZ
Page Type: PWA
Approach: A popular influencer is selected based on the target GEO and age group, after which a high-quality deepfake with accurate lip-syncing is created. In the creative, the influencer talks about fast gameplay and winning opportunities: “If you have X amount of money, you can try this slot/casino.”
It is important that the mentioned amount exceeds the minimum deposit, as this helps attract a higher-quality audience. The video then showcases gameplay, including bonuses, multipliers, and winning spins.
Why it works: Trust in the influencer, their recognisability, the visual appearance of a physical casino, and the slot demonstration work together to capture audience attention effectively.

An additional advantage is the low entry threshold: the creative mentions a relatively small amount that users can potentially start with and still have a chance to win.

Risks / Limitations: Lower audience quality.

Setup #3

This setup can attract a higher-quality audience, but the key factor is the consistency of the funnel. The PWA, FP, and domain should visually align with a specific land-based casino. This increases trust in the offer and positively impacts conversion rates.

Traffic Source: Facebook
GEO: CA
Page Type: PWA
Approach: The creative is centred around a well-known land-based casino shown from a visually striking angle that is immediately recognisable to the audience.
Bonuses and payment methods are displayed at the bottom, while the top section features the message “(Name of the land-based casino) is now officially online.”
Why it works: Recognition of the land-based casino increases trust in the offer, while all key information is communicated quickly and without unnecessary visual clutter.
Risks / Limitations: Ad rejections.

Based on the RollXO review, several key factors make the brand a strong product for scaling. The brand delivers strong performance thanks to its user-friendly product, high player engagement, and effective retention mechanisms.

With proper creative adaptation, a well-structured funnel, and high-quality traffic, the brand can consistently generate profit and successfully scale volumes in Tier-1 markets.

Launch RollXO with N1 Partners, and scale your campaigns with top conditions:

14+ casino and betting brands with high Reg2Dep and LTV;
10+ Tier-1 GEOs;
CPA up to €700 and RevShare up to 55% + NNCO for top affiliates;

Be number one with N1!

Affiliate Success

ReferOn Shortlisted for Two EGR B2B Awards 2026 Following Record Platform Growth

Published

2 days ago

June 4, 2026

George Miller

ReferOn Shortlisted for Two EGR B2B Awards 2026 Following Record Platform Growth

ReferOn, the data-driven affiliate management platform, has been shortlisted in two categories at the EGR B2B Awards 2026: “Affiliate Software Supplier” and “Full Service Platform of the Year (under 5 years)”.

These nominations reflect ReferOn’s rapid evolution from a fast-growing platform into a mature affiliate management solution trusted by operators seeking greater scalability, automation, and operational control.

Solving Affiliate Management Complexity at Scale

Over the past year, ReferOn has focused on solving one of the industry’s most persistent challenges: managing affiliate programmes efficiently at scale. By automating key affiliate management processes and transforming fragmented data into actionable insights, the platform enables operators to scale partner programs more efficiently while maintaining full visibility and control.

Turning Data Into Faster Decisions

As platform capabilities expand, Refie serves as an intelligent UX layer that makes complex data instantly understandable. By translating backend logic into intuitive visual guidance, it helps users move faster, make better decisions, and spend less time navigating reports.

By translating technical precision into intuitive visual feedback, Refie eliminates the need to dig through dense reports, guiding users toward real-time performance and faster decision-making. It moves beyond simple functionality; it’s about giving teams their time back by making complex data instantly readable.

Alex Bukin, CEO at ReferOn, commented: “These nominations reflect the momentum behind ReferOn’s evolution into an award-winning platform built for operators who refuse to compromise between sophistication and usability. We’re proud of how far we’ve come, but even more excited about the opportunities ahead.”

The winners will be announced at the EGR B2B Awards ceremony, taking place on June 3 at City Central, HAC, in London.

News

N1 Sport Promo Starts Soon: More FTDs, Higher Rates

Published

3 days ago

June 3, 2026

Master Editor

N1 Partners is preparing a new promo for its partners, N1 Sport Promo, for the hot summer sports calendar and the main football event of the year, FIFA World Cup 2026.

The promo starts on June 10 and runs until July 20, when audience interest in sports reaches its peak and sports and prediction traffic gets strong potential for scaling.

During the same period, Wimbledon, the NBA finals, Formula 1 races, UFC Freedom 250 at the White House and the N1 Hype tournament will also take place, attracting the attention of millions of players worldwide.

N1 Sport Promo: first details

Within six weeks, partners will be able to receive additional bonuses for traffic to sports betting and Prediction Markets. The more high-quality FTDs a partner brings, the higher their potential reward.

The key mechanic of N1 Sport Promo is the opportunity to increase current rates.

Alexa Bond, Head of Affiliates N1 Partners, comments on the upcoming promo:

“Major sporting events traditionally increase interest in betting and prediction markets, opening up additional opportunities for partners to attract traffic. With N1 Sport Promo, we have focused on mechanics that reward scaling and strong results. This promo is for those who are ready to work actively with traffic and get the most out of the sports season.”

All details, terms of participation and bonus amounts will be announced soon.

The countdown to the start has already begun.

Existing partners can contact their manager now to prepare for the campaign launch and learn more about the opportunities of working with sports and prediction traffic.

Haven’t joined N1 Partners yet? Contact the manager, get involved and make the most of the 2026 sports season.

Start working with N1 Partners: