Best Online Casinos for Players from India

Introduction

With its numerous states and union territories, India is a large and attractive market. However, the status of interactive entertainment is not quite explained and regulated in all its aspects, which opens numerous questions.

Where to look for good India-friendly casinos?

The simplest we could say here is “visit our directory” because we really strive hard to include nothing less but ultimate quality. But, even then you should analyze and compare what each of those hubs has to offer and find something that fits your demands.

Our insightful review offers plenty of information on banking methods, problem gambling, and features some useful tips which may help you make up your mind between two casinos. Keep reading for more!

Recommended Online Casinos

Picking an online casino doesn’t mean typing in some keyword in a search engine and clicking on the first suggestion that pops up. It is necessary to investigate a bit before placing a deposit and playing games.

First of all…

… check if the establishment has a license. Despite the fact that India hasn’t got its regulator, look for approvals by relevant international institutions. Also, see if there are any seals from test labs.

Then, analyze what are the policies on payment transactions, and check whether a venue offers Rupees as an option. Also, see what sort of bonuses are displayed, what are the rules for cashout, eligibility, duration, and wagering requirements.

Moreover, explore the games portfolio. Assuming that an operator is truly interested in catering to the specific preferences of this market, it will make sure to include Andar Bahar or Teen Patti.

Furthermore…

… reviews from reputable information sites can be very helpful. There are so many platforms specialized in reviewing online venues, their policies, Terms and Conditions, games, bonuses, and everything. They are willing to share both positive and negative impressions, and even make some sort of “sin bin” where they accommodate those and attach the status of untrustworthy and dishonest to such brands.

Trusted Portals

• World Casino Directory
• Real Money Action
• KeyToCasinos

As you can see…

…resources are abundant, and your duty, as a responsible player, is to take advantage of all of them. Even though it may take let’s say half an hour of your time, maybe an hour, it’s still nothing compared to what you get in return.

And what you get is a venue that fits your demands perfectly. So, consider it a smart investment, a small detective job that can save you lots of potential troubles.

Live Dealer Options for Players from India

Offshore online operators that service punters from this part of the world offer live dealer games in their portfolios. Evolution live casino products are available as well, which means players have top-notch products at their disposal.

Below is the list of finest live dealer operators:

Licensed and Regulated Indian Casinos

Even though India is one of the largest markets with plenty of online hubs delivering their services to consumers from this region, it’s quite interesting that the status of gambling is not quite clear yet. Each state is in charge of regulating its own laws and rules.

At the time being…

… only three states allow land-based casinos, Goa, Daman, and Sikkim. As for Internet-based entertainment, the law says it is not illegal for non-Indian casino companies (AKA offshore) to have sites that focus on consumers for this corner of the world. The only requirement from a legal point of view is that those foreign platforms have to offer Rupees as a payment method for Indian players.

Most of the laws make difference between games of chance and games of skill. Some also clearly define whether a game is played for profit or gain.

Horse racing and fantasy sports…

… are considered to be games of skill. Poker and rummy cases have made their way through the courts regularly. Poker festivals are now seen as legal, whereas rummy is labeled as a "dangerous activity" in some states. Lottery, although purely a game of chance, is allowed but highly restricted.

So what’s the future of regulated online gambling in this state?

It’s hard to say, but things seem to be heading towards approval. Those who are against gambling claim that it leads to crime, corruption, and money laundering. However, those who advocate regulated gambling argue that it can be a huge source of revenue for the state. Time will tell!

Casino Trust and Security

Pretty much all of us are skeptical when it comes to data (and money) transfers online. It’s only natural, as we cannot see what’s going on with all the information with our own eyes.

However, nowadays there are so many protection measures that can keep us at ease. One of them is 128-bit SSL encryption, which protects data as it’s sent back and forth between the hub and the computer. If you are concerned about the outcome of the games, then look for some RNG certificate on the official website.

But do bear in mind that…

…casinos can have more damage than use if they fool punters. If they keep their business clean and clear, offer games with a fair outcome, don’t make any problems with the cashout procedure, the positive “word of mouth” will spread fast that they have a good reputation. And that can only attract more new clients!

On the other hand, if they fail to treat customers with respect, bad reviews and opinions will spread even faster. So, instead of dealing with the status of a scammer or ending up among blacklisted, it’s much better to maintain the reputation of a trustworthy betting shop.

Banking Options for Indian Players

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has taken each and every step under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) to prohibit, forbid and bar any kind of transaction which was illegal and contrary to forex laws.

Simply put…

…this means that RBI has the power to instruct banks to decline or refuse payments or deposits involving any particular payment processor. This includes online gambling websites as well. Transactions with VISA or Mastercard will most likely not be successful from the following financial institutions- American Express Credit Cards, Axis Bank, Bank of India, Canara Bank, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Punjab National Bank, SBI – State Bank of India, and UCO Bank.

That leads us to the conclusion that it’s not quite possible to use credit cards for gambling in India. What else do players have at their disposal, then?

E-wallets!

Their popularity grows at the speed of light for a quite simple reason. There’s no need to expose sensitive data (like you do when you opt for credit or debit cards), which is why they are one of the greatest alternatives to cards. All it takes is to log into the account and authorize the transaction. Skrill and Neteller are the two most widely-spread methods, but there are also MuchBetter, and Payz.

What about cryptocurrencies?

Crypto wallets are free, easy to register, and safe to use, which explains why they represent a perfect match with online gambling. Moreover, funds are sent and received within a couple of minutes, and without accompanying fees. And above all, it guarantees anonymity.

However…

…their status is not yet well-explained, let alone officially regulated for this purpose. Yet again, it’s not prohibited to use this payment asset for gambling, which means that the final decision is up to each player.

Depositing and Withdrawing when in India

As you have seen from the previous part, there are certain obstacles to making deposits and withdrawals in this part of the world. That’s why punters need to open their eyes as wide as they can and explore every single detail in Terms.

Here are some of the fields every customer should check:

• Availability and Accessibility

If an operator is interested in attracting an international audience, it’s natural to expect that versatile payment methods will be included in the lobby. Knowing that credit card transactions can be a bit tricky, it’s good to look for hubs that offer other options, such as e-wallets. Plus, see if INR is accepted.

• Processing time and verification procedure

These two are closely connected. The more documents are requested, the longer the processing time will be. Sometimes it’s necessary to submit them for every request, sometimes after a cumulative amount of either deposits or withdrawals reached the specific limit.

• Fees for withdrawals and/or deposits

There are no uniform rules on this, which is why it’s each punter’s duty to check if there are any additional costs of this sort. In most cases, there are no commissions for deposits, but they could be imposed for some withdrawal options. Once again, it’s necessary to look for that info before making a deposit or requesting a cashout.

Problem Gambling in India

It comes as a huge (and a bit of unpleasant surprise) that there hasn’t been any systematic research into problem gambling in this country with such an immense citizenry-approximately 17.7% of the total world population.

Indian psychiatrists are seeing gambling addicts in their clinical practice, still, the awareness is still limited. To prevent issues from spreading, it would be wise to take a public health approach and enable a three-tiered approach- primary, secondary and tertiary approaches.

As we all know…

…each hub has certain measures in place to minimize the chances for problems to occur. For example, there are possibilities to set limits for spending or time. Some jurisdictions even have self-exclusion registers, which allow customers to take a break for a specific period of time.

Written by: Michael Shackleford