Table of Contents

India Gambling Laws 2026 — the citizen's full map

Casinos in Goa / Daman / Sikkim (in-person only) · state lotteries in 13 states · online skill games on OGRAI-registered platforms (from 1 May 2026).

❌ Illegal (everywhere)

Online satta · offshore betting apps (Parimatch, 1xBet, Dafabet, Lotus365, Stake, Fairplay, Betway, Mostbet) · surrogate ads (1xBat, Dafanews) · online chance games · private lotteries · anything real-money online in TN, AP, Telangana.

Tax (even on illegal winnings)

30% flat under §115BBJ + 30% TDS at withdrawal under §194BA. AIS sees offshore-app credits.

In trouble

Cybercrime: 1930 (24×7) + cybercrime.gov.in within 72 hours. Family help (gambling addiction): 1860-2662-345 (Vandrevala, 24×7, free).

The 9 deep-dive guides

Is Satta legal? · IPL betting apps · New Online Gaming Act 2026 · State-by-state map · 7 tricks satta apps use · Your son is playing — what to do · How UPI fraud works · Complaint guide · Tax on winnings (§115BBJ)

Read the pillar

righttoinformation.wiki/gambling-laws-india-complete-citizen-guide

RTI Wiki — April 2026. Forward freely. Save a family.

Why this matters for citizens

Issues like this are common — every year lakhs of Indian citizens face the same hurdle. The core legal frameworks are the Right to Information Act, 2005, the Information Technology Act, 2000 (for online matters), and the Consumer Protection Act, 2019. The enforcement bodies vary by issue but most start with a complaint to the relevant department PIO + a parallel CPGRAMS filing.

Citizen action steps

  1. Step 1 — file an RTI under §6 of the RTI Act 2005 to the relevant department PIO. Use AI RTI Drafter for free.
  2. Step 2 — parallel CPGRAMS complaint at pgportal.gov.in for service-delivery push.
  3. Step 3 — if PIO refuses, §19(1) First Appeal in 30 days. Use First Appeal Builder.
  4. Step 4 — for fraud / criminal matters, FIR at local police station + cybercrime portal (cybercrime.gov.in) + NCRP helpline 1930.
  5. Step 5 — for consumer issues, Consumer Court under Consumer Protection Act 2019 (e-filing at edaakhil.nic.in).

Citations and sources