It will come as no surprise to you that India is now the new hot bet for online gambling activity. For too long we have heard stories of the UK, Sweden and Las Vegas being the biggest gambling hubs in the world. Well now the time has come to welcome a new entrant into the world of online gambling. While some may think that India’s inclusion into the list is odd, experts will rejoice at the thought of India finally being part of that list.
Gambling Act of 1867
Source: unsplash.com
Gambling has been very much a part of Indian culture. Locals would routinely bet on card games such as Teen Patti when playing against family, friends or even strangers. However, once the British had colonised India, they were keen on getting rid of gambling from society. As a result, the Public Gambling Act of 1867 was introduced which made it illegal for Indians to promote and take part in gambling related activities. Failure to adhere to these instructions would often lead to fines or jail time for the concerned individuals. However, a lot has changed since then, and the government has essentially placed the responsibility on the individual states to decide the fate of gambling. Some states have welcomed gambling with open arms while others have labelled them as an evil act which needs to be eradicated at all costs.
India | The Next Frontier in Online Gambling
India as a country has experienced several changes which have created an environment that is conducive for online gambling. The Internet is now more readily available all across India and the price of smartphones have been going down for a while now. Manufacturers from China have played a big part in providing Indian consumers with cheaper handsets that offer enough functionality for them to enjoy the internet. The big advantage of having the internet on your phone is that you are not confined to a particular space for your gambling needs. Indian players can be on the train or at the cricket ground and still place bets on their favourite matches.
Finally, international bookmakers are now flooding the Indian market with their offers. They are able to go over the gambling act simply because they are not based in India. These offshore companies have simply opened their doors to the Indian audience who can now access these sites without the fear of getting prosecuted by the law. The important question that one needs to ask is how you select the best cricket betting site with so many options that are present to Indians. An easy answer would be to look at a betting site like cricketbettingwali.in. CBW as we like to call it offers an unbiased look at the different operators that are currently working in India. They cover every aspect including welcome bonuses, payment methods and customer support to name but a few to provide unique reviews on the bookmakers, online casinos and online lottery sites. Consider CBW as a one stop shop for all your gambling related needs. If you are still keen to learn more about the different factors that you need to take into consideration when selecting a betting site then please continue reading.
Factors to Consider when Choosing a Betting Site
License –
Source: usbettingreport.com
By far the most important aspect to look out for when selecting an offshore betting site. You need to scroll down to the bottom of the site and look out for the license they hold. If they have MGA, UKGC or Curacao then feel free to continue with the registration process. A lack of license is a big red flag and we would encourage you to leave the site asap despite whatever welcome offer they might be throwing at you.
Welcome Offer –
Speaking of welcome offers, with increased competition in India, the bookmakers are throwing everything but the kitchen sink to get you to open an account with them. These include match deposit bonuses, cashbacks and even free bets, such as on freebets. What all this means is that you can play your favourite casino games or place bets on matches using free money. This is a great way to get used to an operator before committing to them in the long term. This also means that you should always be on the lookout for new operators to see what sort of welcome offers they can provide you.
Game Selection –
Source: festivalsherpa.com
A cricket betting site is worthless to you if you are unable to place bets on your favourite games. With India, it is an absolute must to have cricket as one of the sports you can bet on. Most websites will offer cricket, football, hockey and a lot more to get you involved. They will cover major events including the World Cup, Champions Trophy and Indian Premier League. If it is an online casino then they will offer a good selection of games including poker, roulette and slots.
Payment Options –
It is all well and good to have the right games and welcome bonuses but an operator will be useless to you if you are unable to deposit money. Thankfully nearly all sites coming into India have taken into account the local payment methods that are needed such as UPI , Netbanking , Paytm and more. Some will even go the distance and provide crypto related options. There are several benefits to providing crypto support as the transactions incur next to no fee, are anonymous and get completed in the shortest amount of time.
Customer Support –
Source: telegraph.co.uk
If you do run into a bit of bother with the operator then it is always good to know that there is customer support at hand to help you. The more ways you can contact support the better it is for you. At present, most operators will provide email , live chat and telephone options.
Conclusion
If you stick to the factors above then you should be able to find the operator that best suits your needs.
