Grey areas can sometimes turn an industry black. Take the case of online gambling and entertainment in India. While its real-world brethren in the Indian context are either looked down upon or outright illegalized by law (unless you are in Sikkim, Goa or Daman where the roulette never stops rotating and cash registers never stops ringing!), online gambling and entertainment in India is still allowed because there’s no provision in the Public Gambling Act of 1867 that bans the same- because the internet and things online weren’t around when the law came into being! Check the year! A full decade after India’s first war of independence in 1857!
Coming into the present there are quite a few reasons that online gambling and entertainment could be a hit in India, including the presence of sites such as NetBet . That said, reasons include:
- Compulsive gamblers! Our scriptures and mythologies too speak of Kings and Commoners alike gambling away all they had. While the latter isn’t exactly advisable, it doesn’t take away the fact that India had in the past always been rich, wealthy and resourceful enough to afford and enjoy the simple pleasure of betting and gambling.
- Risk-takers! Indians were always the kinds who took risks (which to an extent was dampened by the British with the law mentioned above!) sometimes calculated but mostly out of gut-instincts and sheer audacity.
- Higher disposable incomes! From the time that India has set itself on the path of liberalization, disposable incomes have only increased, sometimes substantially. This itself has increased people’s propensity to gamble as a form of entertainment in India. With the coming of online gambling and entertainment sites in India including NetBet Sports , this has only increased and will not go south anytime soon.
- Time on hand! The Covid-19 pandemic-led lockdown pushed people behind closed door for a good 6 to 9 months. With only boredom beyond a point, online gambling and entertainment was the one source that kept people sane. It also gave them most an extra source of income to some but in most cases, it helped people keep their mental faculties intact instead of staring at depression and everything negative. With the economy picking up, people would find time to move beyond the traditional sources of entertainment. With gambling and entertainment being out of question in the real-world, online gambling could be the best and healthiest bet.
- All the advantages of online activities! When one can find life-partners online, why not entertainment, and money? Online gambling has certain advantages like:
- Privacy! India has a very negative connotation with respect to gambling. It’s considered a vice meant for the “lowly” or the “high-and-mighty” to indulge in. Online gambling introduces an element of privacy given that it can be accessed through any gadgets at any time of one’s choosing.
- Professionalism & ethics! Online gambling and related entertainment have an element of high professionalism where rules are pre-set and people can play against pre-set margins instead of playing open with the risk of losing everything
- Introduction of newer games! Things in the cyberworld don’t have physical constraints. In the case of online gambling, newer games can be introduced almost by the minute! It’s only technology and security that could be an issue which in any case most online sites take good care of. Most in fact, have the best security set-up that can be found that keeps players’ identities, game scores and monetary details very secure and safe
- Anytime anywhere! Gambling and casinos aren’t present in India other than in Goa, Sikkim and Daman. In the Indian context, you either go abroad or you go to these states. In either situation, it takes time to plan the trip. For folks short on time, it’s a complete no-go. The same does not apply to online gambling such as NetBet and NetBet Sports where one can play at anytime of one’s choice and games of one’s liking.
- Payment in Indian Rupees also! Gambling sites like the ones mentioned above in most cases accept payments in Indian Rupees despite the fact that most set-ups are outside India! Yes, you pay in INRs and enjoy your bit of gambling! You ALSO win in INRs!
In monetary terms, it is a known fact that close to 80% Indians gamble at least once a year. Certain times of the year and festivities too engender this activity, especially Diwali when its considered auspicious to gamble. Games like IPL and legal online betting on these are increasingly getting popular and has in fact made these games the most popular such events ever! Confirmed sources put the figure of online betting in India in 2019 at close to INR 60 billion which by 2024 could go five times high to INR 300 billion!
Putting legalities in place could have a double whammy for the economy. It would fetch much needed and big monies in taxes for the government and put an end to seedy side shows which malign the industry’s name. Also, India being the land of software professionals, any legal steps in the right direction could generate much-in-demand employment for a sizable section of the population be it for coding, UX/UI and even game designing itself!
