Is Betway Legal in India?

Betway is one of the biggest betting sites in India. Boasting a substantial global presence, the Malta-based operator recently began offering online gambling services in the subcontinent. India is a lucrative gambling market with an estimated market size between $12 and $18 billion. And Betway is trying every trick in the book to attract Indian players.

However, we often hear one question – Is Betway legal in India? We’ve scoured the internet and several gambling forums to trace the legality and authenticity of Betway. And here’s everything that we found.

The first confusion that we would like to clear is that Betway is legal in India. According to the 1867 Gambling Act, sports betting is illegal on Indian soil. However, there are no laws against online sports betting.

• Expert: Enrico

Updated: September 11, 2023

Reading time: 8 Minuten

Therefore, Indian players can rest assured when gambling on Betway.

State-Wise Laws in India

The 1976 Bombay Wager Act, a state law, implemented in Maharashtra, defines gaming instruments categorised as illegal. While the act is only applicable in Maharashtra, there is little awareness or implementation regarding the law.

Online betting laws are vaguely implemented in certain states at best. Sikkim and Meghalaya are the only states to legalise sports betting. While Sikkim allows online gambling at intranet terminals, operators in Meghalaya must obtain a license under the Meghalaya Act. States like Goa, Union Territories like Dadra and Nagar Haveli, and Daman and Diu are exempted from Indian laws.

Betting on Horse Racing

Online betting on horse racing legally falls under the skill games category and is exempted from most gaming laws. Since most Indian online gambling laws are pre-internet, there are no statutory statements or specific regulators governing betting on horse racing. However, the race club organisation might impose individual restrictions.

Betting on Online Casino Games

Indian state laws regulate both land-based and online casino games. But, since they’re considered a game of chance, they’re legal in only a few states. Sikkim allows online betting on select games like roulette and blackjack. And operators must obtain a license under the 2008 Sikkim Online Gaming Act.

Meghalaya recently implemented the 2021 Meghalaya Regulation of Gaming Act, allowing betting operators to obtain a license before hosting online and land-based games of chance like keno, roulette, and wheel of fortune, among others.

Betting on Poker

The Indian states of Nagaland and Meghalaya regulate skill gaming. Playing poker is unregulated in every other state. Nagaland Prohibition of Gambling and Promotion and Regulation of Online Games of Skill Act, 2015 and the Meghalaya Regulation of Gaming Act, 2021 recognise poker as a skill game.

Betting on Lotteries

Lotteries are exempt from Indian betting laws. They’re regulated by the central government and specific lottery laws at the state level. However, private lotteries are banned under IPC (Indian Penal Code), 1860. And the law extends to the states that organise and conduct physical and online lotteries.

Betway Sports Betting

Betway is a popular sports betting site based in Malta. The operator is licensed by the MGA (Malta Gaming Authority) and is a prominent name in global sports betting. Since the platform does not operate out of Indian soil, Indian players can create an online betting account without fearing legal repercussions.

The Betway homepage gives a good overview of the many offers.

The MGA has a strict code for sports betting sites, and Betway follows each of them. Betway India abides by local laws and holds all the necessary clearances to serve Indian customers. The sportsbook follows responsible gambling etiquette. And only offer online gambling services in areas permitted by the law.

So, if you’re concerned about creating a Betway account, rest assured that using Betway is completely legal in India.

Innovative Features of Betway Sportsbook

Betway offers several innovative features and unique offers to Indian punters. Let’s discuss them in detail.

Cash Out

Using the innovative cash-out feature, Indian players can withdraw money from their Betway account before the match/bet is over. This is one of Betway’s highlights. And the amount depends on the number of remaining matches and results.

Live Stream

Betway provides live streaming, where users can stay updated with the current situation before placing a live bet. Live streaming is only available for certain sports. And Indian users can log into their Betway account to watch the match in real-time.

Custom Odds Format

Betway provides the odd selection in the following formats: fraction, decimal, and American. While decimal remains the default view, players can use a more suitable option if they wish.

Special Bets

Betway accepts special bets, including those on politics, movies, and awards. The odds vary depending on the type of bet you want to make. Special bets can be accessed from a designated area on the website.

Top Sports at Betway India

Betway’s sports betting selection sets it apart from the competition. The operator has a respectable selection of sports betting markets, and this includes international and local events. From the Cricket World Cup to the Olympics, group stage football matches and more, here are the top online betting markets in Betway.

Cricket Betting

Cricket is a massive sport in India and Betway offers competitive odds to Indian players. Check out the pre-game and live odds before placing a wager to boost your chances of winning. Betway accepts wagers on several top-rated international events, and the odds can go up from 91.89 to 95.00% for cricket.

Unfortunately, Betway does not currently offer live streaming services to its Indian customers. But the operator can include this feature in the future. Among the several betting options currently available for cricket bettors, the following stand out. Make sure to familiarise yourself with each of them before placing bets.

• Toss Winner
• Toss/Win Double
• Double Chance
• Tied Match
• Draw no bet

Football Betting

Football betting is the next most popular betting market in India. Visit their live betting section for a vast collection of odds selection. Some of the prominent events that you can bet on include:

• Champions League
• Europa League
• Bundesliga
• La Liga
• Premier Leage
• UEFA National League
• World Cup

Placing a bet is quite simple. You must analyse the different football betting types Betway offers. You can bet on a win, draw, doubles, trebles, accas, or over/unders. Like cricket betting, live streaming is not available for the India audience.

Tennis Betting

Indian tennis enthusiasts will have a blast by betting on tennis events. You can wager on international competitions like WTA, ATP, and Challengers sports leagues. Some of the top competitions include:

• Wimbledon
• French Open
• Australian Open
• Cincinnati Masters

Just like the other open sports on Betway, there are several betting types for tennis. Punters can select between competitive odds for the entire tennis calendar. You can bet on both the men’s and women’s ITF tournaments as well as local events.

Horse Race Betting

The most challenging part about horse race betting on Betway is understanding the odds. Betway offers decimal and fractional odds. And bettors can wager on international events like:

• Dubai World Cup
• Kentucky Derby
• Melbourne Cup

You can also bet on Indian events like:

• India Derby
• Bangalore Races
• Mumbai Races

Betting on Other Sports

Betway accepts wagers on a long list of sports. The list includes volleyball, basketball, badminton, and eSports, among others. The online betting site accepts wagers on 30+ betting markets globally. Indian punters will enjoy gambling on Betway.

Online Gambling Using Betway in India

Online gambling enthusiasts will love Betway’s seamless interface, bonus collection, payment methods, and game selection. Players can choose from over 30 blackjack options, multiple roulette variations, and 500+ video slots on Betway.

Betway casino features the best games from some of the most popular software developers globally. The list includes classic and recent games from Microgaming, NetEnt, and other prominent industry stalwarts.

There is a separate live betting platform on the website. Find your favourite live dealer game and start playing.

How to Claim a Casino Bonus?

To claim your Betway casino bonus, follow these steps.

• Sign up on Betway.
• Opt-in for the welcome bonus.
• Your first deposit must be at least Rs. 700. Intiate the transaction and wait for the bank transfer to complete.

Once the bonus is credited, read the terms and conditions to familiarise yourself with Betway’s policies.

What are the Terms and Conditions of Betway’s Casino Bonus?

The top terms and conditions of Betway’s welcome bonus are:

• You can only initiate a withdrawal once you meet the wagering requirements.
• Betway has a 30x playthrough requirement.
• You must wager the bonus amount within seven days
• Betway reserves the right to change the policy or void any bonus claims without prior notice.

How to Create Your Betway Account?

Before starting your betting journey, you must create your Betway account. The registration process is quite simple. Just follow the step-by-step instructions below.

• Visit Betway India and click on the “SignUp” button on the top right corner of the screen. The registration process is split into three parts.
• Start with entering your account information like username, password, and contact credentials.
• The second step is to enter your personal details like your name, country of origin, and date of birth.
• And finally, you must enter your address and mobile number. Betway asks for permission before signing you up for promotional emails. Opt-out if you don’t wish to be bothered.
• After you’ve filled in the details, click on the register button to complete the sign-up process.

Creating a Betway account is relatively simple, and the process barely takes a few minutes. Once your account is active, you can claim the welcome bonus, set up account restrictions, and start gambling. Betway verifies your preferred payment method before you can withdraw money.

What Deposit Methods Does Betway Accept?

Betway accepts several deposit methods from its Indian users. You can legally deposit money using your preferred deposit method. Let’s take a look at the top deposit methods and limits.

For Visa, Skrill, ecoPayz, AstroPay, and Neteller users, the minimum and maximum deposit limits are Rs. 200 and Rs. 6,00,000 respectively. For UPI and Bank Wire, the limits are Rs. 500 and Rs. 6,00,000. It’s safe to use any payment method listed above. But, for security purposes, we recommend using credit cards for both deposits and withdrawals for an added security layer.

The payment gateways do not charge a commission for deposits. But you might be charged a percentage of your winnings while making a withdrawal.

How to Withdraw Money From Betway?

Withdrawing from your Betway account is a straightforward process. Here’s how to initiate a transaction.

• Go to your Betway account
• Select “My Account”
• Choose “Withdraw Funds”
• Select your preferred payment method
• Enter the amount you want to withdraw
• Click “Withdraw Now” to initiate a transfer

How Reliable is Betway Customer Support?

Users can get in touch with Betway via live chat. The average response time is between 5 and 20 minutes. You can also reach customer support via phone and email. The customer support executives respond in English and Hindi.

The response time may increase considerably if the number of requests is high. However, the staff is extremely polite and well-trained and can handle all customer queries and resolve issues in no time.

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