If you’ve noticed a surge in people talking about odds, parlays, and bookies in India lately—you’re not alone. Online sports betting has exploded in popularity over the last few years, especially with the rise of smartphones and high-speed internet. For many Indians, placing a bet on their favorite match has become just as exciting as watching it.
Sports Culture in India
Cricket – The National Obsession
Cricket in India is far more than a sport—it’s deeply woven into the nation’s identity, history, and everyday life. From bustling cities to remote villages, cricket has a presence that transcends class, language, and religion. Families gather around TV sets, children mimic their favorite players in alleyways, and major games like India vs. Pakistan can almost paralyze the economy for a few hours. It’s not uncommon for workplaces to pause or slow down during critical matches. The sport serves as a cultural glue, bringing together generations and communities under the umbrella of national pride and fandom.
With the rise of the IPL (Indian Premier League), cricket has evolved from a seasonal sport into a year-round business and entertainment phenomenon. The IPL not only attracts top international talent but also fuels a thriving betting industry, both formal and informal. Every ball becomes an event—will it be a six, a dot ball, or a wicket? Bettors can place wagers on countless aspects of the game, from toss outcomes to player performances. The familiarity of Indian audiences with cricket rules, stats, and strategies gives them a natural advantage in betting, making cricket the go-to sport for millions of Indian punters.
Football – The Rising Challenger
Though cricket dominates the Indian sports scene, football has been climbing the popularity charts rapidly, especially among younger audiences. The emergence of the Indian Super League (ISL) has helped localize the sport, providing Indian fans with homegrown heroes and city-based teams to support. Meanwhile, the international football scene—especially leagues like the EPL (English Premier League), La Liga, and Champions League—has captivated millions. Matches featuring teams like Manchester United, Real Madrid, or Bayern Munich often trend on Indian Twitter during game nights, and pubs in metro cities are packed with football fans even during the wee hours.
This surge in popularity has opened up a whole new world for Indian sports bettors. Football offers consistent match schedules across global time zones, with hundreds of matches each week. The betting markets are equally diverse, ranging from final scores to goal scorers, number of yellow cards, and even corners per half. The sport’s dynamic nature—frequent upsets, unpredictable outcomes, and lower-scoring games—adds excitement and the potential for high payouts. While cricket is comfortable and familiar, football offers more variety and thrill, especially for those looking to explore international betting markets.
The Legal Side of Sports Betting in India
Is Betting Legal in India
The legality of sports betting in India remains one of the most confusing and debated topics. While there is no national law explicitly banning online betting, the core legislation—The Public Gambling Act of 1867—prohibits operating physical gambling houses. However, this law is outdated and doesn’t consider modern-day digital platforms or the rise of sports betting apps. Because of this legal gap, online sports betting has largely operated in a grey area, where enforcement and clarity are both lacking.
To make matters more complex, gambling and betting are considered state subjects in India, which means each state can draft its own policies. This has led to a patchwork of inconsistent rules:
- Sikkim and Goa have legalized certain forms of betting and operate state-run or licensed betting shops.
- Maharashtra has a more rigid stance and prohibits most forms of gambling.
- States like Telangana and Andhra Pradesh have amended laws to explicitly ban online gaming and betting.
- Meanwhile, in most other states, online betting using international platforms continues unchecked, though technically without formal approval.
As a result, Indian bettors often find themselves in a legal grey zone—not explicitly banned, but not entirely legal either.
Online Betting Platforms: Loopholes and Risks
With no centralized regulation of online betting, Indian players turn to international websites that operate under licenses from countries like Malta, Curacao, and Gibraltar. These platforms—such as Betway, Parimatch, Dafabet, and 1xBet—offer localized interfaces, accept Indian rupees, and even provide customer service in local languages. On the surface, they seem reliable and user-friendly, but they come with serious risks.
Here are some of the main concerns:
- Lack of consumer protection: Since these sites are offshore, Indian users have little to no legal recourse if disputes arise.
- Scams and fake sites: The popularity of betting has led to an explosion of copycat and scam websites that look like the real thing but steal your money.
- Payment issues: While UPI and crypto options are often available, some users report blocked transactions or frozen withdrawals due to regulatory scrutiny.
- Data privacy: Many offshore sites don’t follow strict data protection norms, making your personal and banking information vulnerable.
Despite these risks, the appeal of easy access and big winnings keeps millions of Indian users coming back. However, one wrong move—like trusting an unlicensed site—can cost users their entire bankroll.
Cricket Betting: Pros and Cons
Why Indians Prefer Betting on Cricket
Growing up in India means growing up with cricket. It’s more than a pastime—it’s part of everyday life. From gully cricket games to heated family debates over Virat Kohli’s form, the average Indian has a deep, instinctive understanding of the sport. This level of familiarity gives Indian bettors a serious advantage when placing bets. They know how pitches behave in different cities, how players perform under pressure, and which teams thrive in the chase. When it comes to betting, this insight can be the difference between profit and loss.
Moreover, cricket has an abundance of domestic and international leagues to bet on. The Indian Premier League (IPL) is the crown jewel, offering daily matches, big-name players, and dozens of betting markets—from who will win the toss to how many runs will be scored in the next over. Other leagues like the Big Bash League (BBL) and Caribbean Premier League (CPL) also attract Indian bettors, especially during the IPL off-season. This constant stream of action means more opportunities, more markets, and more excitement.
Drawbacks of Cricket Betting
However, cricket betting isn’t all smooth sailing. One of the biggest issues has been its association with fixing scandals. Indian cricket has seen its share of controversies—from the match-fixing era involving Mohammad Azharuddin in the 1990s to the IPL scandal involving S. Sreesanth and others in 2013. These incidents shake public trust and introduce a layer of doubt that can affect betting outcomes. When the integrity of a match is in question, fair play becomes a concern for serious bettors.
Another problem is predictability—especially in short formats like T20. While unpredictability sounds like a gambler’s dream, in reality, T20s often follow a pattern. Strong teams dominate, and favorites win more often than not. This results in lower odds and reduced payouts. The excitement might still be there, but for risk-loving bettors looking for bigger margins, cricket can feel too “safe” or limited in variability.
| Aspect | Pros | Cons |
| Familiarity | Deep local knowledge of teams, players, and conditions | Bias may lead to emotional rather than logical bets |
| Leagues & Markets | IPL offers daily action and variety of bet types | Limited leagues in off-season |
| Match Integrity | Generally regulated at the top level | History of match-fixing and scandals |
| Betting Odds | Reliable but low-risk options | Often lower returns due to predictable outcomes |
Football Betting: Pros and Cons
Advantages of Football Betting
Football is a truly global sport, with action available all year round. From European giants like the Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, to smaller leagues like the MLS or J-League, there’s never a shortage of matches to place a bet on. Unlike cricket, which can be seasonal, football ensures that punters always have games to watch—and more importantly, opportunities to wager. This availability makes football ideal for bettors who crave constant engagement and a wide variety of options.
One of football’s strongest features from a betting standpoint is better odds and unpredictability. The outcomes of football matches can be flipped in seconds—a red card, a penalty, or an injury-time goal can dramatically change the result. This creates exciting, high-risk, high-reward betting scenarios. For example, backing a draw or an underdog win can yield significantly better payouts than safe bets in cricket. Football also has highly diverse betting markets—from “first goal scorer” to “total corners”—allowing experienced bettors to explore deeper, strategic bets.
Challenges in Football Betting
Despite its global appeal, football betting has some hurdles for Indian bettors. One of the biggest challenges is the lack of in-depth knowledge. While Indians are passionate fans of teams like Manchester United or Barcelona, many do not follow smaller leagues, injury reports, or tactical changes closely. This knowledge gap can lead to poor betting decisions, especially when relying on gut feeling or hype instead of stats and strategy.
Time zones also play a role. Most European football matches air late at night or early morning in India, which can be inconvenient and lead to rushed bets or skipping key research. Without a full understanding of the teams and their current form, betting becomes more of a gamble than a strategy. In this sense, football betting may favor those who are genuinely invested in the sport beyond the highlights and social media clips.