Are offshore betting sites legal in India?

The legality of offshore betting sites in India is a complex and contentious issue. There is no explicit federal law that makes it illegal for Indian residents to use international online casinos and betting platforms. These sites operate from outside India's legal jurisdiction, which makes them difficult to regulate.

However, the Indian government has been taking a more active stance against them, having blocked access to hundreds of 'illegal' gambling and betting websites in recent times. Furthermore, the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), 1999, prohibits the remittance of foreign currency for activities related to gambling, which can create legal and financial risks for individuals using these platforms.

While many Indians continue to use offshore sites, they do so in a legal gray area, with the potential for facing banking restrictions and the risk of the sites being blocked without notice.