The popularity of gambling is on the rise all over the world, and India is no exception. Despite the rapid growth of the industry, the legal status of projects that provide online casino betting and gaming services remains ambiguous. Differences in state laws, the lack of a unified federal law and the rapidly growing number of users create a complex legal situation

In this article, we will endeavour to give a complete and unbiased view of the legality of gambling in India and at pin up, looking at the legal framework, Supreme Court judgements, state legal positions, international services and much more.

History and Basis of Legal Regulation of Gambling in India

The basic regulation of gambling in India is based on the Public Gambling Act 1867, which dates back to the British colonial period. This law prohibits the operation of physical gambling establishments and the organisation of money betting. However, there is no explicit mention of online formats. 

Also, according to Article 246 of the Constitution of India, gambling falls under the exclusive competence of the states. This means that each state can enact its own laws and regulate the provision of gambling-related services in its territory.

Attitudes Towards Gambling 

There is no direct ban on gambling in federal legislation. This has created a kind of “grey market” in which international projects can provide services to local audiences subject to a number of conditions: use of INR, absence of local servers in India, conducting operations in a jurisdiction outside the country, compliance with KYC policies.

The Information Technology Act (IT Act) 2000 regulates online projects and allows the government to block websites that disrupt public order. However, it does not contain specific provisions on gambling, which also leaves room for the industry to develop.

What Formats of Gambling are Allowed in India

Let’s take a look at the destinations and activity categories in the Pin up official catalogue that can be availed without any restrictions.

Games of Skill

One of the key legal distinctions in India is the division of activities into Game of Chance, which is banned in many states, and Game of Skill, which is fully permitted.

Let us look at the main examples of skill games that are permitted across India: fantasy sports (Dream11, MPL, MyTeam11), poker (in certain states), rummy, chess and quizzes. The Supreme Court of India confirms that a game in which the element of skill prevails cannot be considered gambling.

International Projects

Sites like Pinup casino do not have offices in India and are not directly subject to national regulation unless they use Indian payment gateways directly, operate only on foreign servers, conduct registrations to Indian users without violating local laws.

Despite the restrictions, millions of Indians are actively playing on international sites. This is due to the absence of an explicit ban on the use of sites from abroad, the popularity of VPN services, the use of cryptocurrencies or international gateways for transactions, and apps available via APK or PWA (not on Google Play).

How to Ensure Lawfulness and Security

If you decide to register on a particular gambling site, observe the following rules:

  • Use licensed international sites – projects with licences from Curaçao, Malta, Isle of Man or UKGC are considered safer and more transparent;
  • Research your state’s laws – even fantasy sports may be banned in some regions;
  • Do not violate KYC policy – play only with your own details, do not use fake documents;
  • Use safe payment methods – cryptocurrencies (BTC, USDT, ETH), international payment gateways and e-wallets;
    Avoid projects with a suspicious reputation – compare reviews, rating, withdrawal conditions.

The Pinup India project fully fulfils all these requirements. 

Liability and Risks

Consider the legal aspect of violating local laws. For example, in some states, gambling can be a criminal offence. On the part of the Pin up team, failure to comply with KYC may result in account blocking and confiscation of funds.

Remember about financial risks as well, as your card or account may be blocked in case of suspicious transactions. And errors in cryptocurrency transfers make attempts to return funds impossible.

The Future of Gambling in India

Today, the local gambling market is characterised by the following trends and tendencies: 

  • Increasing legalisation of skill games, especially when using mobile apps;
  • The emergence of special taxes and regulation, for example, many states have a GST commission that regulates online betting;
  • Discussion of a nationwide law on internet gambling services;
  • Implementation of formal regulators at the state level.

Among the most likely changes, experts include the introduction of national licences for international projects and brands, stricter control over payments and gambling advertising, and simplified taxation for withdrawal of winnings.

Today, the regulation of gambling in India is a complex and multi-layered process. phenomenon. From a legal point of view, it still depends on the legislation of a particular state. Therefore, millions of users continue to play fantasy sports, poker, slots and bet on sports through international sites and apps that are not physically present in the country and offer many secure and verified payment methods.

That said, it is still illegal to play for luck at offline and online casinos in most states, to register on uncertified or unlicensed sites, and to promote gambling services without proper authorisation from the authorities and official regulators. If you take a sensible approach to gambling, study the laws of your region, choose licensed projects and do not violate KYC requirements, you will be able to enjoy betting and gaming in a safe and legal environment without any problems.