The Group of Ministers (GoM) that was set up in May to audit the Goods and Services Tax (GST) for online gaming, gambling, and horse racing has agreed that online gaming would not be taxed like a gambling entity.
The GoM has also agreed to consult industry and legal experts before they submit a final report. They also want to impose a 28% tax on the gross gaming value (GGV).
Currently, the gaming industry is taxed at 18%, but with projected revenue of $5 billion by 2025, the GoM wants to garnish more income from the budding industry.
Online gaming typically pools players’ money together, which is, in turn, used for payouts and winnings. Although this process is similar to gambling experts, argue that online gaming is a skill and not a game of chance.
Roland Landers, the chief executive of the All India Gaming Federation (AIGF), stated to media outlets that it is excellent that the GoM recognizes the constitutional and legal differences between online gaming and gambling.
Alpha Zegus also added that keeping the gaming and gambling industries separate makes sense since they have different economics, operating procedures, and profit margins. Zeus also stated that the gaming industry should be taxed as per their standards.
Is Online Gambling Legal In India?
Yes. There are no Indian gambling laws that prevent IN residents from gambling on sports, poker, casino games, or horse racing online. However, when it comes to domestic gambling, only three states have public gambling options: Goa, Daman, and Sikkim.
Most Indian federal laws that address gambling were written before the internet boom. However, your state could have some local gambling restrictions. We suggest you check your local ordinances before gambling online, but if you decide to start a new online casino account, see our IN casino reviews to learn what sites offer the most bang for your rupee.
You can also find Indian rupee casinos and other popular casino sites that accept cryptocurrency and offer bonus options depending on what deposit option you choose.