Digital Disconnect: Is Betting On Lok Sabha Election Results Legal In India? Here's The Grey Area Online Gambling Sites Operate Within

Public Gambling Act, 1867, doesn’t explicitly mention “online gambling” as a term. Hence, online betting sites get a grey area to operate within, which they exploit to lure people to put their money on elections.

Several online betting apps offer access to election betting, including the now-banned Mahadev Betting app.

Source : Getty

Online betting is caught in a strange mire in India. On one hand, the Public Gambling Act, 1867, strictly prohibits betting and gambling. As per a Press Information Bureau (PIB) circular, gambling is considered illegal in “the majority of regions across the country.” On the other hand, however, the Act does not include “Online Gambling” as a term. Exploiting this gaping hole, several so-called illegal apps have been luring users to bet on the ongoing Lok Sabha