From dingy gambling houses to the hands of literally anyone with a mobile phone, gambling in India is a fact. Legal enjoyment of gambling, or games of chance, was historically limited to festivals or daily lottery draws but has since become a normalised habit for many.
This change didn’t happen overnight, but it is a result of the rise in disposable income, access to affordable smartphones, and improved internet connectivity. Today, more Indians are placing bets, carefully treading the thin line between leisure and loss.
India and Gambling Go a Long Way
There are close ties between India and gambling, with games of chance being mentioned in scriptures such as the Mahabharata, Rigveda, and the Manusmriti. And while ancient scriptures often tell cautionary tales of these games, several have become traditions in India.
Teen Patti, a popular card game often played among friends and family during Diwali, is seen as a festive tradition. Participating in the game is considered to bring prosperity and luck to the coming year. Trying one’s luck with numbers has been legal since the 60s when India first legalised the sale of lottery tickets. In the state of Meghalaya, Teer betting has been a popular pastime for punters for centuries.
Back then, gambling was casual. An occurrence during festive celebrations, a simple way to pass the time, or try one's luck in a somewhat organised and regulated manner. Stakes were usually only a few paise or rupees; the act of gambling for the regular Bharati was harmless.
What changed?
Gambling in India is not what it once was, and improved financial stability among India’s population is one of the reasons why. According to a 2023 report from the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, India’s per capita income has increased by over 35% from 2014 to 2023. Younger individuals often move from rural areas to urban ones, managing to do so while living independently, making their own spending choices, and not solely out of necessity.
In addition, smartphone use in India has skyrocketed, with over 700 million internet users now enjoying mobile data at an extremely affordable rate. Gone is the need for shady gambling rooms or bookies; gambling apps are just one click away, playable either for free or with online payments.
With mobile gambling comes an increased sense of privacy, even when money is at stake. While police can easily track down a designated gambling establishment, 700 million internet users are harder to keep on the radar. And then there’s the fact that the transition from gaming houses to individual mobile devices made it difficult for India’s century-old gambling laws to apply.
While gambling still comes with its own sets of risks and problems, it is no longer hidden, and to many, it is seen as normal.
Income and Innovation create opportunities for online games
One such now-normalised game is Teen Patti. While still one of the preferred games to play together with cousins and siblings during Diwali, it has made its way into real-money apps. Online, players can play their cards right, either against other players in multiplayer apps or against “the house” at an online casino.
The wonders of technological innovation and increased income have even made their way into one of India’s most beloved games of chance, the lottery. Over the last few years, the habits of lottery betting in India have undergone significant changes.
According to a 2022 government survey, fewer people under 35 reported buying paper lottery tickets than those over 50. And the reason may just be that the players have moved online. Meghalaya and Goa have both launched local online lotteries. And there’s the possibility to participate in international lottery draws via offshore online lottery agents, sometimes paying jackpots that far exceed those of local draws.
And there you have it. The ideal blend of online innovation and technical solutions creates an online environment where Indian players can make real-time transactions, placing bets just seconds later.
iGaming is now an indispensable part of entertainment
As iGaming has made its way out from illicit gambling houses and into the smartphones of regular Bharati people, the view of casinos has drastically changed. People post screenshots of big wins and payouts. Friends cheer each other on when playing games like Blackjack, Teen Patti, Andar Bahar, and more. Gambling has become part of a shared digital experience.
It is common for people to unwind by placing a few bets or playing a few spins. And it is the younger generation that is brought up with a more lax relationship with gambling. A 2021 study by the All India Gaming Federation found that 68% of online real-money players were between 18 and 35 years old. For many of them, gambling is entertainment.
One clear piece of evidence of destigmatising is advertising. Who hasn’t seen a Dream11 commercial in the last couple of weeks? Or celebrities in film and sports appearing on posters, promoting games like online blackjack, Poker, and more for foreign online casinos, as well as local operators of questionable legality.
While some face legal repercussions as a result, the advertisements sell more than just the chance to win big. It sells the ability to engage in gambling without being shamed for it.
Everything isn’t going ‘ca-ching’
While social media and commercials show happy faces of people celebrating their most recent jackpot win, this is far from reality. Most people engaging in gambling end up losing more money than they win. After all, casino games are games of chance. And chance-based games can often entice people to keep playing. This is a slippery slope.
Real-money apps are designed to keep you playing. Bright colours, bonus features, and exciting sound effects are all designed to pull users in. And amidst all of that, it is easy to forget that this isn’t just a game–it’s money. Studies in behavioural economics show that people treat digital cash differently from real cash. A tap feels lighter than handing over a note.
As a result, addiction is growing, especially among young players. And while the act of gambling is destigmatised, having a gambling disorder is still greatly stigmatised. Meanwhile, many don’t see gambling as a serious issue until it leads to debt or relationship problems.
Laws haven’t kept up. Some states regulate betting. Others don’t. And many games operate in legal grey zones. There’s little clarity and even less enforcement.
The path is paved with both risk and reward
India’s gambling culture is changing fast. What was once a festival pastime is now a daily habit for many. Higher incomes and access to technology have opened the gates. But those gates don’t just lead to fun.
Behind the wins are real risks—money lost, time wasted, habits formed. People need to look beyond the surface. Gambling isn’t just about cards or numbers. It’s about choices and the risks we take when we make them.
