Online gambling in India has undergone a major legal shift with the introduction of the Online Gaming Act, 2025, which continues to remain effective in 2026. The new law has made it clear that real-money online gaming is not allowed in the whole country and that there is no longer a legal uncertainty over the betting and casino sites' legality. This includes even the most commonly used offshore betting site, Stake.com.

Is Stake Legal in India in 2026?

No, Stake is still illegal in India as of 2026. The Online Gaming Act, 2025, has imposed a ban across the country on all real-money online games that include betting, casino games, and even paid skill-based contests.

As Stake offers both real-money betting and online casino games, it is liable to be prohibited. This means that Indian gamblers cannot even create accounts, make deposits, or place any bets on the site.

Why Stake Is Banned Under the Online Gaming Act

The Online Gaming Act, 2025, was a regulatory measure aimed at bringing uniformity in gaming laws throughout the country and wiping out all the loopholes existing in the regulatory system. Some of the important provisions of the Act are:

Strict prohibition of all money-based online gaming platforms

Closure of all payment methods, such as UPI, bank transfer, and cards

Outright ban on any form of advertising, sponsorships, and public relations with influencers

Recognition of esports and free-to-play games is only under the law.

The law applies to Stake in full and denies the platform the offshore hosting argument since real-money wagering is involved. Why Stake Is Not Working for Indian Users

Many users in India now find Stake inaccessible due to ISP-level blocking and payment restrictions. Even if the website loads in some regions, financial transactions from Indian banks and UPI systems are blocked. Earlier, access depended on state-specific laws, but the nationwide Act has overridden those differences. This means Stake is restricted across all Indian states, not just regions like Telangana or Andhra Pradesh.

Can VPNs or Mirror Sites Be Used?

The use of Virtual Private Networks or mirrored websites as a workaround does not legalize Stake in any way. On the contrary, it is accompanied by the following risks:

It goes against the law of India.

It violates the terms and conditions of Stake.

The account might be banned permanently.

Monies deposited and won can be lost.

Still, if a few users can get in for a short period, there will be no change in the legal or financial risks.

Stake's Restricted Regions

Besides India, Stake is limited or prohibited in a number of countries in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Australia due to stringent gambling regulations. The payment blocks, licensing laws, or geo-restrictions are usually the ways through which these limitations are imposed.

A Brief Overview of India’s Online Gambling Laws

In the past, Indian gambling laws were very old and scattered; they were based on colonial-era laws that never envisaged online platforms. It resulted in an extremely long period of legal uncertainty.

The Online Gaming Act 2025 has provided a clear and precise definition of the situation, which not only includes the gaming without payment and esports in the legal classification but also completely bans gambling with money. The Act pledges to eliminate ambiguity, safeguard the buyers, and maintain one single regulatory framework.

Final Verdict: Are Indians Permitted to Access Stake?

No. To be more specific, Stake has been banned in India. It is considered illegal and risky to open accounts, deposit money, or use VPNs as methods. It is strongly recommended that Indian gamblers refrain from using such sites and instead, play the legal, free-to-play games that are in accordance with Indian law.