There are several legal and safety factors bettors must evaluate before using any online betting site. These factors include: site legitimacy and safety; privacy and security of personal and financial information; payment and withdrawal risks; responsible gambling, including ways to limit or self-exclude; site controls to limit gambling.

Given the evolving situation with India’s laws and regulations, users must evaluate sites that offer online gaming according to the factors outlined above.

Prior to the enactment of the Federal Online Gaming Laws in 2025, the country did not have uniform gaming laws. Because of various state and local laws, court decisions, and central laws, gaming was subject to varying degrees of regulations and allowed in some states while restricted in others.

However, the Federal Online Gaming Laws of 2025 outright prohibited online games where users could wager money. Because of the laws, publishing and/or offering online money games was and still is illegal. Therefore, information published prior to the enactment of the Online Gaming Laws is obsolete and does not reflect the current situation.

Therefore, when considering Fairplay Betting, users must review the above edits to ascertain the legality of the activity and the organization offering the games.

1. State Laws Matter

State laws relating to gambling and gaming impact other areas of India's statutes and policies. In general, an older statement that a particular activity is legal in a state must be reviewed in the context of the latest regulations and notifications issued by the central government.

Legislation and policies evolve. So do the challenges to and interpretations of the laws. Reliance on out-of-date legal information is not advisable.

2. Check Age Limits and Eligibility

Age restrictions are another policy area that impacts public safety.

The creation of a user account with a gaming website are considered public policies. When a gaming website requires the account holder to authenticate his/her/their identity, the submitted documentation must be accurate.

Minors must be restricted from using gaming websites.

Unclear, hard-to-find, or inconsistent policies regarding eligibility for a gaming website are grounds for concern.

3. Assess Website and Sponsor Reliability

A number of websites, advertisements, and social networks, including mirrors and third-party links, will appear when Fairplay betting is search engines.

Just because an online results page (or other listing) positions an online website at the top, this does not guarantee legitimacy or trustworthiness.

Before Using a Website, Check the Following

Phishing websites often have slight differences in their domain names and spellings.

Phishing websites often use HTTP. Legitimate websites use HTTPS.

Contact information of an organization is usually available on legitimate websites.

Privacy policies and terms of use of websites describe how organizations use and handle the information provided by their users.

Important information should not change across different web pages of a website. Information may change across web pages of different websites.

Legitimate websites provide a service and do not use strong or exaggerated language to attract customers.

Links received through social media, messages, emails or advertisements should be verified for legitimacy.

The MeitY advisory has cautioned against online betting and prediction websites and using VPNs to access such sites.

4. Review Privacy Policies

A website may collect personal information. A privacy policy describes the information collected by a website and how the information is used.

A Privacy Policy Should Describe the Following

• name, email, and mobile number
• information about user’s identity and age
• payment information
• security of website and service
• technologies used for tracking and ads
• information retained by the website
• how to delete an account
• information provided to other websites

Complain or contact the site owner if you find the policies or information described above to be insufficient.

Do not upload your ID or other sensitive information if you do not know who will see the information.

Protect Your Account Credentials

Use strong and unique password for each website. Never share your password with anyone.

Be Careful About Customer Support Requests

Beware if someone claiming to be from customer support requests any of the following:

• Your passwords
• One Time Password (OTP)
• Bank/Card PIN
• Card/Payment details
• Access to your device

If an employee of the company needs to support you in any way, they would take up the call/chat/email process, and would not ask you to share your confidential credentials.

Payment and Withdrawal Risks

In addition, always check the payment options to determine if the website is legitimate.

Before you transact, make sure you understand the conditions for each of the following: deposit, withdrawal, and refund; and identify the limits for your transactions. Also, be certain you understand the process for cancelling your bets.

Always ensure that the person with whom you are dealing is not asking you to make a payment into a personal account. You should also review the legality of the site, as the Indian government has taken actions against some of these sites and associated accounts.

Consider the Following When Assessing a Betting Operator

• Suspending/closing accounts
• Verifying your identity
• Having multiple accounts
• Payment/withdrawal disputes
• Terms/conditions relating to withdrawals/promotions/geographic restrictions
• Payment/withdrawal conditions

If you’re uncertain of the meaning of a term/condition, do not speculate. Contact the operator for clarification.

Responsible Gambling and User Safety

Always be mindful of the terms relating to responsible gambling.

There are several safety concerns relating to betting beyond the legality of the site and the encryption of your personal/financial information.

Betting can put individuals’ financial and emotional well-being at risk. Users should not bet more than they can afford to lose and should not bet to try to win back the money they lost.

Users should take breaks and be mindful of how much money they are spending.

Signs of a Betting Problem

There are many signs that indicate that a person is developing a problem with betting including:

• Betting more than they can afford
• Hiding their betting from others
• Neglecting other responsibilities to bet

If these signs indicate that a person is developing a problem with betting, that person should stop betting and seek help.

Fairplay Betting Website Warning Signs

Consider the following fair play betting website warning signs and act accordingly:

• Claims about guaranteed profits.
• Urgent requests to make a deposit.
• Requests to provide personal and/or financial information.
• Lack of clear information about the entity that operates the website.
• Absence of legal documents.
• Website redirects to other websites.
• Requests to make a payment for no apparent reason.
• Messages that attempt to authenticate the user’s identity.
• Extreme gratification and endorsing offers.
• Instructions to avoid/bypass legal restrictions.

It is best to evaluate the presence of multiple warning signs to take appropriate action.

Checklist

Prior to taking any action, determine the following:

• Is the activity accepted under the Indian legal framework?
• Are there recent legal or government documents?
• Am I above the minimum age requirement to use the service?
• Is the domain name legitimate?
• Is there a privacy policy?
• Are my user account credentials secure?
• Are there clear policies regarding transactions?
• Have I read the terms and conditions?
• Am I comfortable losing the money I am about to wager?

If you were unable to answer the questions above, you should investigate further.

Fairplay Betting FAQs

Is Fairplay Betting Legal in India?

It is not enough to say that a website is accessible in India to determine if Fairplay Betting is legal. Online money games and related activities are prohibited as per the provisions of the Promotion and Regulation of Online Games andrelated Activities Act, 2025. This Act and the rules made thereunder have established the Online Gaming Authority of India.

Laws and decrees can change including the status of a case pending before a court. Therefore, it is important that the public interested in this matter verifies from time to time the existing position themselves.

Can Online Betting Laws be Different for Different States in India?

Traditionally, law and order as well as Other Games of Chance (including betting) have been in the state lists. However, central laws can prevail over state laws. Therefore, an older state-wise explanation may not always reflect the current situation.

What Should I Keep in Mind While Approaching Betting Websites?

One should check the legality of a website, and check their policies (privacy and terms), payment options, safety features, and the operator of the website.

Is an HTTPS Website Legal?

Not necessarily.

How Can I Check if a Website is Legal?

The best way to verify legality is to consult the departmental websites of concerned ministries and departments of the Government of India and use primary sources of law. Secondary sources, prominently available on the internet, may not be reliable.

Key Concerns Before Using Fairplay Betting

Legal issues, Security and Financial risks are the three main concerns that users must evaluate before using Fairplay Betting.

Users must find answers to the above questions by conducting their own research. Reliance on advertisements and/or the presence of a functional website to determine the legality of online gaming in India, is inappropriate. The online gaming industry in India has witnessed several regulatory changes and what was legal a few years ago may no longer be the case.

In order to arrive at an informed decision, a checklist considering the legal aspect, eligibility, safety and security of the website, and other aspects, must be provided by the website.

It is important to cross check with the most recent government directives and orders, in case the website fails to provide adequate legal and safety assurances.