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The Ins and Outs of Online Gambling in India: Laws and Legislation Explained
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.
N1 Partners expands its sports traffic capabilities. Betting is now available across three brands within the affiliate program’s portfolio: alongside the flagship sports product N1 Bet, RollXO and Lucky Hunter have joined the lineup.
For partners, this opens up new opportunities to work with Tier-1 sports traffic. You can scale volumes on a dedicated betting product while simultaneously running sports traffic on casino brands with already strong conversion rates. This approach allows affiliates to diversify traffic flows, reduce reliance on a single product, and strengthen key performance metrics by combining sports, casino, and seasonal promotional mechanics.
Why Seasonal Events Matter When Driving Traffic
In practice, the most consistent conversion results are achieved when traffic launches are aligned with seasonality, key news hooks, and behavioral peaks in player activity.
February offers a particularly strong combination of factors:
- a packed schedule of top football leagues and tournaments
- the Winter Olympic Games
- seasonal holidays, including Valentine’s Day
- increased emotional engagement from players
During such periods, users are more likely to make deposit decisions, engage with promotions, and return to the product. Timing and the right contextual hook have a direct impact on overall performance.
To simplify campaign planning and help partners make the most of this period, the N1 Partners team has prepared a selection of key sports events and active promotions that are well suited for driving sports traffic.
Key Sports Events in February
11.02.2026
Soccer | Italy, Coppa Italia | Quarter-final | Bologna – Lazio
Ice Hockey | Olympic Games | Slovakia vs Finland
Soccer | England, Premier League | Manchester City – Fulham
Soccer | Germany, DFB Pokal | Quarter-final | Bayern Munich – RB Leipzig
Basketball | NBA | Houston Rockets – LA Clippers
Soccer | CONMEBOL, Copa Libertadores, Qualification, Quarter-finals | 2-nd legs
12.02.2026
Ice Hockey | Olympic Games | Czech Republic vs Canada
Soccer | England, Premier League | Brentford – Arsenal
Basketball | NBA | Orlando Magic – Milwaukee Bucks
Basketball | EuroLeague, Regular Season | Round 28
Rugby League | Super League (England, France) | Regular Season
13.02.2026
Ice Hockey | Olympic Games | Canada vs Switzerland
Basketball | NBA | Oklahoma City Thunder – Milwaukee Bucks
Handball | Germany, Bundesliga | Next Round
14.02.2026
Ice Hockey | Olympic Games | USA vs Denmark
Soccer | England, FA Cup | 1/16-finals
Soccer | Germany, Bundesliga | Werder Bremen – Bayern Munich
Rugby Union | France, Top 14 | Round 17
Handball | Spain, Liga ASOBAL | Next Round
Basketball | Spain, Liga ACB | Round 20
15.02.2026
Ice Hockey | Olympic Games | Switzerland vs Czech Republic
Soccer | Italy, Serie A | Inter – Juventus
Soccer | Italy, Serie A | Napoli – AS Roma
Soccer | Italy, Serie A | Lazio – Atalanta
Soccer | Spain, LaLiga | Girona – Barcelona
Soccer | Spain, LaLiga | Real Madrid – Real Sociedad
Soccer | France, Ligue 1 | Marseille – Strasbourg
Soccer | France, Ligue 1 | Rennes – PSG
Basketball | NBA | ALL-Star
Tennis | WTA 1000 Dubai, United Arab Emirates | Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships
Active Promotions Across N1 Partners Brands
To boost player activity and support conversion rates during peak dates, N1 Partners is launching seasonal Valentine’s Day promotions across key brands. These campaigns provide partners with additional leverage when driving traffic and engaging users.
Valentine’s Advent Calendar (N1 Bet, RollXO)
Period: 13.02–17.02
Daily rewards available for participants over five days:
- 13.02 Love Box: prize up to €15,000
- 14.02 Valentine’s Riddle Offer: 100% bonus up to €500 + 150 FS
- 15.02 Sunday Challenge: 50% bonus on the 3rd deposit
- 16.02 Road to Free Spins: 30 FS for every €350
- 17.02 Fortune Lottery Series: prize pool €63,000
Cupid Mailbox Lottery (Lucky Hunter)
Period: 09.02–14.02
Prize pool for 28 winners: trip to Paris + €6,400 + 1,400 FS
Why This Matters for Partners
Seasonal promotions and event-driven campaigns help partners address several key challenges when working with Tier-1 traffic:
- encourage higher average deposits
- increase LTV through repeat engagement
- sustain activity during periods when CR typically declines
- integrate smoothly into creative bundles and ad formats
- strengthen the emotional appeal of offers through holidays and major events
In a highly competitive environment, these product-driven initiatives help partners maintain stable and predictable performance.
What Partners Should Do Now
February combines major sports events, seasonal triggers, and strong promotional mechanics into a single high-potential window.
Drive traffic to key sports events and Valentine’s Day promotions across N1 Partners brands: N1 Bet, RollXO, and Lucky Hunter.
The N1 Partners team is ready to provide up-to-date promotions, analytics, and dedicated support tailored to your traffic volumes.
Join N1 Partners
N1 Partners provides everything affiliates need to stay ahead: high-converting products, ongoing analytics with optimization recommendations, and hands-on support from managers focused on long-term performance.
N1 Partners is more than an affiliate program. As a multi-brand affiliate platform and direct advertiser, the company unites 14+ casino and betting brands, operates across Tier-1 GEOs, delivers Reg2Dep rates of up to 70%, and offers competitive deals for top partners — CPA up to €700 and RevShare up to 45%. Trusted by 14,000+ partners, N1 Partners is recognized for its transparency, flexibility, and partner-first approach — where people and communication quality remain the foundation of long-term success.
In iGaming, strong results are rarely accidental. Sustainable growth, scaling, and long-term partnerships are almost always driven by someone who can build processes, stay focused, and make decisions in a fast-changing environment.
In the new episode of N1 Faces, the N1 Partners team introduces Dmitry Filippov, Affiliate Team Lead (SEO) — a specialist working at the intersection of strategy, team leadership, and partner relationships. Dmitry has grown from traffic-focused roles into managing an affiliate direction, and today he’s responsible not only for performance, but also for the way the team builds communication and trust with partners.
Dmitry Filippov
Affiliate Team Lead (SEO), N1 Partners
How did you get into affiliate marketing, and when did you realize this was the field you wanted to grow in?
I first discovered affiliate marketing back in university and joined a team as a junior buyer in the nutra vertical. Since then, I’ve probably created a thousand variations of creatives for “miracle pills” — for potency, joints, blood vessels, you name it.
After graduating, I applied to around 400 jobs and eventually got an offer as a PR specialist in the Forex vertical. But even during my probation period, I realized I wanted to develop the affiliate direction inside the company.
Affiliate marketing brings together everything I genuinely enjoy: marketing, creativity, speed, people — and of course, the freedom to travel.
What brought you to N1 Partners, and what was the deciding factor?
At the time, I was exploring new opportunities for about two months while working as Head of Affiliate at a gambling affiliate network — and honestly, N1 Partners felt like love at first sight.
What made the difference was the communication and the mindset of our Head of Affiliates, Alexa Bond. After the first conversations, I immediately knew I wanted to work here — and I haven’t regretted it for a second.
I’m grateful for every team I’ve worked with along the way, but this one is hands down the best.
As a Team Lead, what’s harder: scaling team performance or scaling the team itself?
In reality, it’s always a combination. As the team grows, results grow with it. What matters most to me is that people develop both vertically and horizontally — in skills, responsibility, and confidence.
At the same time, the market is full of strong talent: people come in with great ideas, experience, and fresh perspectives.
Both challenges — growing the team and growing performance — are equally demanding, but also equally exciting. Especially because our product side is very strong: the brand portfolio and GEO coverage are constantly expanding, which makes a huge difference for affiliate managers.
How do you support the growth of managers within your team, and what skills matter most in the first few months?
Even at the interview stage, I focus primarily on soft skills. Early on, it’s crucial for me to see energy, initiative, and the ability to absorb information quickly.
The first few months are always about adaptation. And here, the key factor is motivation. Without the right onboarding foundation, results won’t follow — which is why I put a lot of emphasis on that stage.
How do you deliver tough feedback while keeping motivation and strong working relationships?
The most important thing is staying objective.
I give tough feedback quite often, but I do it in a friendly way. In most cases, it works more as a push and a motivator than as pressure.
The only people who never make mistakes are those who don’t do anything. For me, mistakes are part of the job. What matters is how a person responds and fixes the situation. A leader’s role is to explain things in a way that doesn’t kill initiative or the desire to grow.
What helps you stay balanced and clear-headed during high-pressure periods?
Travel and sports.
I played football for 10 years, but had to stop due to an injury. Now I occasionally compete at an amateur level in mixed martial arts, and in my free time I play padel.
As for travel — it’s basically an addiction. I plan my next trip while I’m still on the current one. And if I don’t have anything scheduled, the world feels about 10% less bright.
If you weren’t in iGaming…
To be continued.
But seriously — I’d still be somewhere close to this world: either in a related industry or in marketing overall. I genuinely enjoy working in fast-moving environments where things constantly evolve and every month brings new challenges.
Top-3 Blitz
Which skills will increase the value of an affiliate manager the most in the coming years?
- Speaking multiple languages (second, third, and beyond)
- Using AI as a practical tool
- Strong numbers and analytics mindset
What should an affiliate pay attention to when choosing between several affiliate programs?
- How the company shows up in the media and communicates publicly
- Products and GEOs: what exactly is offered, and where it performs
- The team: checking LinkedIn and seeing who’s inside — it matters when the people around you are strong drivers and motivators
What trends will impact the iGaming industry the most in 2026?
- AI: not a replacement, but a powerful assistant. Those who learn to use it as an ally will stay on top. In SEO specifically, there’s no need to panic — everyone will adapt, including to Google AI Overviews.
- Smaller GEOs: they will become increasingly important — often with more flexible regulation and stronger average deposits.
- Consolidation: the trend toward teams merging into holdings will continue, and the market will keep consolidating.
Join N1 Partners
Partners who want to discuss a launch, explore tailored terms, or test an offer can reach out to Dmitry directly.
N1 Partners provides everything affiliates need to stay ahead: high-converting products, ongoing analytics with optimization recommendations, and hands-on support from managers focused on long-term performance.
N1 Partners is more than an affiliate program. As a multi-brand affiliate platform and direct advertiser, the company unites 14+ casino and betting brands, operates across Tier-1 GEOs, delivers Reg2Dep rates of up to 70%, and offers competitive deals for top partners — CPA up to €700 and RevShare up to 45%. Trusted by 14,000+ partners, N1 Partners is recognized for its transparency, flexibility, and partner-first approach — where people and communication quality remain the foundation of long-term success.
SAW proudly announces its partnership renewal with LEON.bet for the 2026 season – a collaboration that continues to grow in ambition and scale across the global esports landscape.
The renewed partnership solidifies a relationship rooted in values beyond competitive success. As a core strategic partner, LEON.bet powers our worldwide growth through broad-scale content, fan engagement, interactive campaigns, and multi-regional initiatives — including exclusive giveaways, fan prizes, and reward-driven activations designed to bring the community closer to the action.
LEON.bet’s involvement stretches far past its CS2 partnership with SAW, teaming up with FlyQuest and GamerLegion. Their engagement across various regions, games, and disciplines demonstrates a shared vision and long-term commitment to esports’ global future and sustainable expansion.
Our alliance is grounded in mutual trust, aligned goals, and a collective push to go beyond the limits. As partners, we’ll continue innovating with fresh content ideas, immersive fan experiences, and initiatives that strengthen our global footprint.
We’re excited to build on our shared successes with LEON.bet as we move into 2026 with renewed drive, pushing our momentum even further.
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