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Overview of Gaming and Gambling Laws
The number of people placing real money wagers on illegal betting and gambling activities in India has increased tremendously. Gambling is strictly regulated in India except for a few specific activities like lotteries and horse racing.
The Gaming Act of 1845 and the Betting Act of 1853 were prominent laws that existed in British India which governed gambling rules. After independence, while some states adopted the Gaming Act as a fundamental law, others created their own online gaming and gambling laws in India.
Importance of Gaming and Gambling Laws
The growth of the gaming industry in India is surging two levels each year, creating a greater demand for uniform gaming laws and regulations. As the pandemic-induced social distancing increased, the gap between individuals and the internet decreased, resulting in a realization for both developers and the government to advance technology and the laws governing such technology.
With the spurt in the gaming industry and its technicalities, the government has begun to recognize the potential in Animation, Gaming, and Comics (AVGC). A comparative rise in gamers from 2021 to 2022 is about 12%. In 2022, India’s gaming market stood at $2.6 billion and is expected to grow at a Compounded Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 27 percent, reaching $8.6 billion by 2027. This surge has brought the business of online gaming lawyers in India to greater heights.
The increasing importance of gaming laws in India is gaining more significance than ever. Our experts possess a wide range of skill sets that help clients navigate through the legal and regulatory environment for establishing a business in this industry, considering numerous central and state laws.
Challenges in Enforcing Gaming and Gambling Laws
With clashes over jurisdiction making headlines now and then, online gambling in India has been a muddy space with constant discord over some of the most fundamental regulatory issues. The Indian Constitutional scenario is settled at gambling being a state subject, whether offline or online. This means that States may prohibit certain games that they deem to fall within ‘gambling and betting’, according to their legislative wisdom.
As a result, what may be legal in one state might not be in another. This obvious lack of clarity explains the stunted growth of online gaming companies over the years and the ever-increasing demand for uniform regulations and norms for businesses operating in this industry. This is what has made the enforcement of gaming and gambling laws a challenge.
With an increasing consumer base for online gaming, user safety concerns have risen like never before. Conflicting governmental opinions, selective state actions, and differing judicial verdicts on the subject matter have created a deep regulatory vacuum, leaving users unprotected from illegal websites and potential harms presented by legitimate skill-based gaming websites.
We at Ahlawat & Associates boast a select team of some of the best online gaming lawyers in India, with towering experience and expertise in gambling laws in Delhi and the rest of the country.
Our Approach to Gaming and Gambling Laws
At Ahlawat & Associates, we have an in-depth understanding of the gaming laws in India governing online gaming and gambling. We can help clients resolve any regulatory concerns arising from state-specific gaming regulations. By specializing in this industry, our Gaming and Gambling team has established a distinctive position in the market.
The Gaming and Gambling practice group possesses exceptional industry knowledge that transcends any single area of law, allowing us to understand the issues affecting our clients comprehensively. With an untiring zeal for serving our clients’ best interests, our team employs an integrated strategy to provide legal advice across a wide range of topics.
This inventive and technology-driven industry is always on the move. The Gaming and Gambling Practice Group remains up-to-date with industry changes to meet client needs. Within this area of practice, we seek to offer a broad range of services, including, but not limited to, preparing legal opinions on contentious matters and guidance on contracts, disclosures, licensing, and agreements. As one of the leading names in this industry, we provide our clients with highly specialized, pragmatic, and efficient solutions.