Online betting is booming in India, with millions of sports fans striving to try their luck during major international competitions and smaller local contests. However, the industry regulations remain weak, with the country sticking to the Public Gambling Act of 1867. Currently, the state’s government is addressing this point by working on an updated legal framework that will specifically touch on the digital sector. As the country debates whether to legalize or ban various forms of sports wagering, there is much to learn from precedents in the United States and the United Kingdom. These two countries have effective models in controlling the iGaming market, so what can India take from their experiences?
India’s Current Sports Betting Landscape
In 2025, the country lacks a clear framework that covers all aspects of the industry’s operations. The main document regulating the sector is outdated, as it was released in the 19th century, when digital activities did not exist. Currently, several regions, including Goa and Sikkim, have introduced licensing frameworks that differentiate between games of chance and games of skill. Additionally, the Indian government has presented a draft of the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act to supervise the iGaming sector and establish clear requirements for operators targeting local players. However, it’s still not perfect. India should concentrate on the following points when updating the legal landscape:
- Consumer protection: regular auditing, preventing minors from participation in betting activities, and enhanced user verifications
- Legal clarity: outlining which activities are allowed in the country and what is strictly prohibited
- Revenue and taxation: requirements for betting operators entering the country’s market
- Advertising rules: ensuring that bookmakers’ promotions are limited and don’t target vulnerable populations
- Integrity of sports: preventing match-fixing, manipulated outcomes, fraud, and money laundering
Fortunately for India, authorities don’t need to create the legal framework from scratch. Developed countries, such as the UK and the US, where betting activities are increasingly popular, already utilize effective models to regulate the digital sector. The Indian government can consider their example and adapt overseas requirements to fit the local sports wagering landscape.
Lessons from the UK
British residents are known as passionate fans of online betting – and they wager on almost everything. A well-thought-out legislation lies behind the accessibility of sports wagering services. The UK Gambling Commission, the main body controlling iGaming activities in the country, is known for strict laws and regular improvements to make the sector more transparent and protected. Take a look at the key points the British authority highlights.
Protecting Vulnerable Users with Thorough Verifications
User identity checks are the basis of the industry: legal and licensed companies like 1 x Bat initiate verifications right after registration. This process is mandatory to identify underage players and prevent them from accessing potentially dangerous content. The UK has taken this approach a step further and initiated enhanced assessments. The authority obliges online bookmakers to ask for users’ financial statements to ensure that they can afford to engage in betting and gambling activities. Moreover, verification is required to check whether a person is self-excluded through GamStop.
Nationwide Self-Exclusion Tool
The UK has become the first country to integrate a mandatory self-exclusion program that covers all bookmakers licensed in the jurisdiction. GamStop analyzes user activities and can block punters with problematic patterns automatically. Participants who signed their agreement with the program cannot suspend or cancel the ban, so betting content remains inaccessible during the chosen period. While a user is blocked from all sportsbooks, they have time to recover and develop a healthy approach to this activity. However, this model still has a loophole: bettors get around the ban by joining offshore casinos not covered by GamStop.
What India Can Learn from American Regulations?
For many years, the US lacked a unified industry framework, allowing state governments to regulate betting independently. In 2018, the Supreme Court cancelled the nationwide ban on sports wagering, making this entertainment legal in most territories. Currently, the country is one of the largest betting hubs globally, but the sector remains heavily controlled by the government. So, what works well?
Shared Responsibility
All parties engaged in the betting process understand the requirements, rights, and obligations they accept. Regulators, licensed operators, financial institutions, and authorities responsible for sports betting supervision collaborate to provide a transparent ecosystem. At the same time, bookmakers are required to integrate round-the-clock monitoring systems to detect harmful habits and provide users with recommendations on preventing potential gambling-related disorders.
State-Level Licensing
Currently, India grants regional governments the authority to initiate local betting laws, making the US approach potentially beneficial for the country. State-level licensing allows authorities to decide which platforms can legally operate across their jurisdiction. This rule eliminates pressure from the central authorities and helps consider regional preferences when providing online sports wagering services. Each state sets its own licensing criteria, which typically include AML checks, strong compliance with technical standards, responsible gambling measures, and financial transparency. The decentralized approach can bring more benefits to the Indian iGaming market.