A Brief History of Gambling in India
Human beings have found ways to gamble since time began. There is evidence of gambling in Ancient China back in 1900BC and India is no different. The Ramayana which is believed to be written in 7300BC and the Mahabharata devote sections to gambling. Although gambling was said to be a fun pastime in the Ramayana and the Mahabharata depicted gambling as a force of destruction.
Ancient manuscripts tell of games played by the Kings between 2000BC and 1500BC. The scrolls tell of a game where a die or dice were used to play a game that involved winning valuable items. It is believed the dice were made from the Vibhitaka tree. Gambling was considered back then to be a convivial way to spend time and certainly not evil.
Horse racing became popular later and other forms of gambling arrived over the centuries. Nowadays it is online sites that are making the biggest changes to gamblng in India.
Legalised gambling
Gambling dens became legalised in the 15th century and there was at last a proper structure to the Indian gambling industry. Taxes from these gambling houses were paid to the King and many of the casino style games that Indians know today were invented during this period.
The next big development was sports betting. Europeans started to arrive in India and with them they brought cricket. This proved extremely popular and thousands of rupees would be bet on the outcome of these games.
Criminalisation of gambling
For the next 3 centuries gambling was at its peak especially with the enormous popularity of cricket. Then, in 1867 the British took over India and everything changed. Nearly all the gambling dens were closed down with just a few being allowed to remain open. The favourite betting games, rummy, horse racing and lotteries were made illegal.
However history has shown when something is made illegal it only drives the business underground. When America introduced prohibition it just created an underground market that brought more crime and problems than it solved. So it was the same in India with people finding ways to play games and gamble in houses or in the streets.
The present day in India
Gambling regulations differ across India but it is generally highly restricted with fines and jail sentences for anyone running an illegal gambling establishment and a fine for anyone entering one of these gambling dens. Many people still play illegally though and for many this is not a deterrent but just a slight risk you take. You could say it’s just another gamble.
Legal casinos
There are three states where casinos are allowed. Goa, Daman and Sikkim. The Goa, Daman and Diu Public Gambling Act, 1976 states that casinos can only be set up at 5 star hotels or on offshore vessels with prior licensing from the Government. This opened the doors to the first casino being opened in Daman with more surely to follow. There are rumours that Visakhapatnam may be the next destination to allow land based casinos. The future of gambling in India is uncertain but the gambling industry is a multi billion dollar business and many big companies are looking at ways to get a foothold in India.
Goa
One of the most popular places to go for a gambling trip is Goa. This coastal destination has attracted foreigners for decades and was part of the hippy trail in the 1960’s and 70’s. Indeed it looks like some travellers never really went home. It is not unusual to see all night parties in Goa and other things that normally you would not notice in other parts of India and it’s gambling scene is no different.
Goa has more casinos than any other part of India. At the time of writing there are approximately 11 in Goa. These include the Deltin Royale. This is the biggest floating casino in Goa and therefore the whole of India. It is based on the Mandovi River and has a 40,000 square foot casino spread over three floors with 800+ gaming positions for all manner of games including blackjack and wildspins. This is the closest you can get to Las Vegas in India. The luxury casino boasts a whisky lounge, live entertainment, VIP gambling rooms and a dedicated poker room.
There are three other floating casinos in Goa using the Mandovi River and these newest additions to the casino world are drawing many people in and away from the land based establishments.
Lottery
Lotteries are popular in many countries around the world and are usually state governed. There are currently thirteen states in India where you buy lottery tickets and five where you can buy lottery tickets online including not surprisingly, Goa. However anyone living in a state where there is no lottery is fully able to take part and purchase international lottery tickets without any fear.
Grey areas around gambling in India
The laws surrounding many gambling activities are slightly grey. There have been court cases regarding the legality of poker. It was argued that as a game of skill it should not be outlawed, however the position still remains unclear. The same can be said for sports betting. It is neither legal nor is it illegal although many street bookmakers have been arrested no online sports betting players have ever been charged.
Online casinos and gambling
Online gambling is illegal except in the state of Sikkim. Being charged for playing online is unlikely however to play safely Indians use a loophole in the law that allows access to online gaming sites if the company is based offshore. Previously online sites were only allowed if they accepted payment in rupees but that is no longer the case and many Indians play online as a form of entertainment. There are many options including sports betting, bingo, poker, slots and more.
Summary
It remains to be seen how gambling will grow in India in the future but for now online casinos are filling a gap in the market while there is no legislation in place to prevent offshore companies. Goa provides luxury casinos for those wanting a little glamour with their favourite games and no doubt people will always play games in the privacy of their homes regardless of any laws.
Disclaimer: This article is a part of featured content series
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