India is a fast-growing economy with a large population and a good amount of young people within the population. This encouraging news means the country is in an excellent place to be one of the significant economies shortly. These developments also mean the country is very lucrative for offshore sportsbooks. This world of online betting has been growing in the country and has garnered loud opinions from people both in favor of the expansion of online betting and those against it. However, just like most of the world, views are softening, and the reach of online betting has been growing. So many people have begun gambling on one of the crown jewels in Indian cricket, the IPL. But this expansion, both among everyday users and people solely using it for betting on the IPL, has not come without its controversy, which has put a strain on IPL as they continue to embrace the absolute best offshore sportsbooks on offer right now.

Below, we will be taking a look at online betting in India and the effects and popularity it has within the IPL world.

Legality of online betting in India

Gambling in the country is legal on a state-by-state basis. The federal government gives each state the right to determine the legality of gambling within its borders, and this goes for online betting as well. Even though there are no laws on online betting, most deems the same rules apply. That is why, in some states in India, there are states that outright ban online betting. However, some states allow for online betting; while currently still a low number, there is enthusiasm that this may change in the near future. So online betting and its legality depend on the state, but there are offshore options that many people have begun using.

The popularity of online betting in India

As mentioned in the intro, there is a big opposition to online betting as well as a big enthusiasm surrounding the growth of the industry. This mixture of both camps has led to the industry’s development, but the industry’s growth is still slow, with a lot of room to make up. Some people equate betting with corruption and money laundering, or for some religion, which is still very much prevalent in India as a cause for either not getting involved with the industry or not accepting its growth. Of course, what also does not help is hearing stories of families losing all of their money or family members bickering. These stories can lead many to correlate with the online betting world negatively.

But regardless, the tides are shifting in the other direction, and more states are beginning to either legalize online betting or are actively looking into it. Legality often gives people a sense of comfort when they are looking to get into something. Even if they do not possess a negative opinion about online betting, if they are in a state where it is illegal, they correlate it with a crime. Even if they were to go to a state where it is legal, they would have a hard time breaking this correlation. But slowly but surely, online betting is growing in India; more people are beginning to use it, and more states are opening the way for it.

Online betting and Indian Premier League (IPL)

Online betting has been growing in India, and with cricket being the top sport in the country, it only makes sense the online betting industry would expand into this sport.

Roughly around the time the IPL came into existence, the tides began to turn in the country regarding attitudes toward gambling and online betting. More people in India were beginning to gain access to the internet, and more people as well to online betting platforms, both domestic sites and offshore sites.

With online betting not being explicitly prohibited outside of the few states that have made online betting illegal, it is perfectly legal to bet on the IPL, and they have made it much more accessible to players. Many sites allow betting on the IPL, and with this league being one of the most popular sporting leagues in the world, it comes as no surprise many people are looking to bet on the league.

However, with all good things comes some controversy. In the year 2013, several players in the IPL got arrested for alleged spot-fixing. The players Ajit Chandila, Ankeet Chavan, and Sreesanth got arrested at a hotel they were staying at in Mumbai while with the team. During the initial arrest and investigation, Chavan reportedly said he was spot-fixing. The police also said that Chandila was trying to bring more players into the spot-fixing with guidance from bookies. In total, 20 people got arrested in this investigation, including bookies who were a part of the scandal. The owner of the team, the initial players arrested played for the Rajasthan Royals, was also questioned by police and said he said he placed bets on his team.

This scandal led to a huge stain on not only the league but also the online betting industry. With the scandal in the IPL it was a moment for people to reinforce the idea that online betting leads to scandal, corruption, etc. That it was thanks to online betting, these players did what they did.

However, this stain was only a moment in history that the IPL and the BCCI worked hard to distance themselves from and reassure people the league was professional. The players and owners of the league were professional. The IPL remains one of the top sporting leagues in the country and still attracts lots of attention not just from people looking to enjoy a game of cricket but from those looking to place a bet. The league has become more open to online betting, and many domestic and offshore sites help.

Online betting may have brought some controversy, but it did not ruin the sport. Now, online betting is synonymous with the game and has only helped the game reach new dimensions and parts of the world. The number of people betting on the IPL is growing, and it looks like it is set to continue to grow, especially as cricket becomes more of a global game instead of a regional game.

Conclusion

Now, the league plus the country wants to expand the online betting industry and maintain its image of a safe, fun, and professional means of enjoying a sport and making money. Stigmas are hard to discard, and the league and online betting industry have not recovered yet, but things are beginning to look for promises for both. With India’s economic power rising and more money in people’s pockets, online betting has a bright future.