People have been betting on sports for centuries. It remains unchanged. The first bets originated back in the 17th century, but there are those sources that claim much earlier. Bookmaking, on the other hand, did not emerge and begin to develop in the world until the 19th century. It was then that the first betting shops started to open and associations were formed.
Today, online betting has undergone many changes, but it is still loved all over the world. This is all because of the thrill a bettor experience during a match on which a bet has been placed.
Betting on sports in the 21st century has become as easy as possible – anyone can place a bet anywhere, anytime using the internet. Advances in technology allow betting to remain one of the world’s favourite pastimes!
Betting in India
One of the most developed markets in terms of rates in the world is India. This is not surprising, with 1.5 billion people living here and the country’s economy and mentality doing their best to get people addicted to gambling. It is for this reason that India is now known as a goldmine for bookmakers who provide their services online.
It should be noted that much of the strong popularity of sports betting in India is due to cricket, the most popular sport in the country. It has been recognised as a national sport, and the country’s national team competes in the world championships every year. Moreover, India hosts the most famous cricket tournament in the world – the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Possibilities for Betting: App and Website
As has already been said, the development of technology has greatly influenced the betting market throughout its history It is today that without the internet, betting would almost be extinct.
Smartphone Betting
Today, betting can be done anytime, anywhere, using a smartphone. To do so, users download additional software. It allows access to sportsbook services online. A small mobile device makes it possible to keep the app close at hand at all times.
Almost 29 per cent of all payments are made using a mobile device. The percentage was around 12% a few years ago, demonstrating the tremendous growth of this form of sports betting.
Today, practically all applications from bookmakers who supply their services in India are based on two operating systems: Android and iOS. Android is the most widely used operating system in the country. Around 65 per cent of all app users utilize it. iOS-based smartphones use the other part.
There are various download troubles with the online betting apps. There are a few details to consider when it comes to Android, even if you can discover the iOS app on the App Store and download it right away.
The app will not be available for download on the official Play Store for Android devices. This is due to Google’s strategy of prohibiting, restricting and discouraging the deployment of gambling apps.
That is why you need to take the following steps to download the program on the Android system:
- Find the official website of the bookmaker whose app you want to install;
- Find the link to download the app;
- Choose a online betting app (in case there are alternatives, such as an online casino app);
- Download the apk file to your device;
- Allow the installation of apps from non-trusted sources;
- Start installing the app using the apk file;
- Wait for the application to full loading and locate it on your device’s desktop.
Websites of the Bookies
Despite the increasing popularity of smartphone apps, the majority of all betting is still done via the bookmakers’ official websites. They account for around 63% of all bets. These are the statistics for 2021.
It is likely that in the near future, the popularity of websites will drop slightly and equal the popularity of apps, but for now, sportsbooks are still putting a huge emphasis on their official websites.
If you want to sign in to a bookmaker’s website, our team has prepared a great one-stop guide that will work for any sportsbook in India:
- On the website (usually at the top of the site), locate the button named “Login” for users;
- Click on it;
- Enter the necessary details;
- Click on “Remember” (optional). This will save you from having to re-enter your account details from this device in the future;
- Click “Login”. If all your details have been entered correctly, your account will be logged in immediately.
Standard registration includes offering personal information, creating a password, and verifying it. It normally only takes a few minutes.
You must click the registration button after entering your information in the appropriate fields. You confirm that you have read and agreed to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service by clicking this button.
The Legality of Betting in India
In India, there is only one document that governs gambling-related activities. The Public Gambling Act of 1867 is the source of this document.
The establishment, management, and attendance of establishments that provide gambling services in India are all prohibited under this statute. It is prohibited for organizations to participate in such actions. It also points out that not all games of chance are considered gambling. There is a split among the games that separates them into two groups:
- Game of skill;
- Game of luck.
Gambling is defined as a game of luck. Establishments that offer such games are illegal.
The question then arises: “How do I know which game is legal and which is illegal? In fact, the law puts the responsibility of allocating games into these categories on the administrative authorities of each state. That’s why today some states allow online casinos to operate in their territories and some prohibit all kinds of gambling activities. You can find casinos today in states like:
- Sikkim;
- Goa;
- Daman.
The truth is that no online gaming platforms have been established in India. Every company that provides gaming services sets a headquarters outside of the country. This prevents the organizations from having any touch with Indian law.
Furthermore, because you do not visit any gambling businesses in India when you play online casino games or wager, you are already exempt from the Public Gambling Act of 1867. This implies you don’t have to be concerned about using online betting or gaming services.
However, keep in mind that your gambling gains will be taxed. If you withdraw a big sum of money, the tax authorities may question you about where it came from. You will be forced to pay tax if you claim you won it or the tax authority discovers it. You will be charged an additional amount in the future if you do not pay.
Bookmaker’s Payments
India has a wide range of payment options. Typically, bookmakers provide a plethora of deposit and withdrawal options. All payment methods are traditionally classified into three categories:
- Crypto payments;
- E-Wallets;
- Bank transfers.
How to Get Started in Betting
It’s quite easy to start betting on sports. First, you need to decide which bookmaker you want to use. To do this, you will have to do some research and read some reviews. However, you can find many bookmaker review sites on the internet which write honest bookmaker reviews.
When you have decided which bookmaker you are going to work with, you have to choose whether you are going to use your smartphone or your computer for betting. This depends on whether to use online betting app or the bookmaker’s official website.
The next steps are as follows:
- Login to your account in the app or on the bookmaker’s website;
- Find the desired option for betting (it could be online betting, live betting, virtual betting, e-sports, etc.);
- Select the specific discipline to bet on;
- Find a suitable match;
- Click on the odds of the team you think will emerge victorious from the match;
- Enter the amount in the separate field that will ask you for it;
- Confirm your bet.
Your first bet is made – all you have to do is watch the match and wait for the outcome.
Cricket Betting in India
Today, the sports betting market in India is more developed than ever. This is primarily due to the popularity of cricket in the country. The sport is the most popular one here and a huge section of the country’s population follows cricket tournaments and championships throughout the season – all year round.
Cricket is a major source of income for sportsbooks in India these days. Many organisations even create separate sub-parts of the Cricketbook on their websites. This shows the immense popularity, which is not going to abate for the time being.