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Cricket definitely takes the top spot as India’s most popular sport. But if you’re looking for the best cricket betting sites in India, it’s important to note that online sports betting is only legal in certain parts of the country.
The good news? Steps are being taken that could see cricket betting become much more widely accessible across India in the years ahead. And even right now, bettors in Goa, Daman, Sikkim and elsewhere have some utterly awesome iGaming options to choose from. What are they? Allow me to show you.
The outlook for online betting in India is… confusing. Perform a quick Google search, and you’d be forgiven for thinking cricket betting is flat-out banned across the entire country. But actually, things are a little more complicated than that.
In a nutshell, Indian gambling laws are incredibly vague; their small print stuffed full of grey areas that’ll surely leave you totally lost as to whether sports betting sites in India are available where you live, or not.
I’m not going to deliver a full-on legal lecture here, but allow me to clear the air a bit. Basically, most states strictly forbid cricket betting, but the historic 1950 Constitution of India gives each region the power to set their own rules regarding gambling – and some have seized this opportunity more than others. At the time of writing, players in the following regions can access legal iGaming options at home:
Meanwhile, bettors in the below areas can enjoy “games of skill” (e.g. cricket), but not “games of chance” (e.g., roulette):
But what does that mean for the rest of you? Well, not so long ago, a report unveiled by the Law Commission of India in July 2021 set out recommendations for wider online betting regulation, in a bid to stomp out increasing reliance on illegal offshore sites among cricket and other sports fans (these, by the way, I’d always suggest you avoid).
Whether the report will gain traction remains to be seen, but should things move in the right direction, you guys can expect an influx of new betting sites in India real soon. For now, though, what options are currently available in the gambling-legal states I listed above?
So, online cricket betting in India is permitted, then, but only in a handful of individual states. And of course, depending on where you’re reading this from, the online betting sites available to you will differ.
I’ve tried to get around this issue in the best way I know – by setting up location-targeting all across my site. Basically, whether you’re visiting me from Goa, Sikkim, Daman or elsewhere, you’ll see my favorite Indian gambling sites that are legally accessible in your region displayed in the banners and lists on this page..
The best cricket betting sites in India have a lot to offer, too. For example, many of the betting brands you’ll see promoted serve-up:
I’m sorry to say that whether you’re looking for the best cricket betting sites in India, or downloadable betting apps you’ve spotted on Google Play or the App Store, the legal outlook is the same.
So, unless you reside in one of the gambling-legal regions I mentioned earlier, you should probably steer-clear of betting apps in India – particularly those that promise the earth and simply sound a little… well… too good to be true.
The good news? I’ve some great tips for those of you in Sikkim, Goa and Daman and beyond on how to spot trustworthy betting brands.
If you’re visiting me from India, and you can see banners for sports betting sites on this page, guess what? These sites are 100% legit where you live – and I know this because I’ve tested them for myself.
But if you decide to go Googling “the top 10 cricket betting apps in India” for yourself, or reading-up on iGaming recommendations elsewhere, you need to be cautious. You see, while no Indian citizen has ever previously been arrested for illegal gambling, reports suggest that potential fines of 200 INR and short prison sentences might be on the table for bettors caught bending the rules. So yeah… you’re going to want to be prudent.
Fortunately, it’s easy to spot the best cricket betting sites in India apart from unlicensed or illegal providers. How? Well, simply look out for evidence of the following:
Essential feature | What you should know… |
---|---|
A trusted iGaming license ✅ | Licenses tell you that a cricket betting brand is properly regulated. Look out for these in the footer of every bookmaker’s website. |
Competitive cricket odds 🏏 | If the odds don’t look fair, you should give the site a wide berth. How can you tell? Simply use my banners to get a feel for averages, then compare cricket odds between providers. |
Responsible gambling tools 🛠️ | Legit bookies care about their bettors. If the site has a “Responsible Gambling” page with easy-to-use tools and resources, this is always a good sign. |
Regional language options 💬 | The best brands out there should be available in Hindi, Bengali, Guajarati, English and more. Never bet with a brand that doesn’t display clear-cut T&Cs in a language you understand. |
Support for trusted payment options đź’ł | Legit cricket betting sites should support deposits from (and withdrawals to) banking options you can trust, like Visa or PayPal, to name a few. |
Of course, these five things aren’t the be all and end all. The best cricket betting sites in India should definitely be SSL-encrypted, too, for example. They should also offer a decent welcome bonus that has fair T&Cs.
You’d be surprised how common betting sites with free registration bonuses are in India in gambling-legal states. If it’s your first-time signing up with an iGaming brand, you’ll usually be able to get your hands on a free cricket bet or two simply by:
Now, allow me to explore how this all works by walking you through the process of setting up your brand new bookmaker account.
Setting up a new profile and unlocking a betting bonus in India is usually incredibly simple. All you need to do, is:
Guess what? In Goa, Daman, Sikkim and elsewhere, you might have more iGaming options available to you than just cricket betting sites. Goa, for example, currently has as many as ten online casino brands, meaning that, via their websites, you might be able to play at Vegas-style slots and tables, too.
A 10 INR minimum deposit at casinos in India is often required, but of course, this all depends on the individual betting site’s own rules. Check out my ample online casino guides if you need any more tips on this.
With relatively strict rules in force regarding cricket betting in many parts of India, it’s absolutely vital you understand local iGaming laws in your state before you start betting. Equally, you should be incredibly careful where you bet – taking the time necessary to determine that any sites you see advertised in your region are properly licensed, offer competitive cricket odds and full support for legit online payment options.
Of course, you can save yourself a big headache by relying on my banners for the best cricket betting sites in India in your state for your recommendations, rather than shopping around elsewhere. Just one thing: If you find yourself clicking through to a site that offers a bonus, be sure to follow the steps I outlined above when creating your account – and don’t forget that a special promo code might be needed.
The legal outlook for cricket betting online varies from state to state in India. Goa, Daman and Sikkim are the most open-minded from an iGaming standpoint, whereas the likes of Nagaland, Karnataka and Maharashtra permit “games of skill” but forbid “games of luck”. Get more info from my expert betting guides right here at Jaxon..
In short, pretty much all of them. Though you’ll want to read my bonus betting guides here to help you make your mind up about which bookmakers’ offers are best.Â
The biggest tell-tale signs of legitimacy are usually things like whether the brand holds the correct license, whether SSL encryption is offered and whether their cricket betting odds seem competitive and fair. My guide walks you through how to spot what’s what.
Players must be 21 years of age or older or reach the minimum age for gambling in their respective state and located in jurisdictions where online gambling is legal. Please play responsibly. Bet with your head, not over it. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, and wants help, call or visit: (a) the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey at 1-800-Gambler or www.800gambler.org; or (b) Gamblers Anonymous at 855-2-CALL-GA or www.gamblersanonymous.org.