The legality of gambling in India varies from state to state. Stake.com currently sits in a grey area regarding its offering and legality in India.
While banned in some states like Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, the platform sees a surge of players from the other states.
Due to the ever-evolving legal landscape, the legality of platforms like Stake is complex within India.
I have included every piece of important info you might find helpful while exploring Stake.com’s legal status in India and providing information on the relevant laws and regulations.
Is Stake Banned In India: The Truth
As long as you are from India except Andhra Pradesh and Telangana and above the age of 21 or the legal age set by your state, technically, nothing is stopping you from signing up for Stake.
Platforms like Stake leverage the ambiguity regarding the lack of concrete laws governing cryptocurrencies in online gambling to operate globally, including in India.
However, any form of gambling is not encouraged. If you choose to play, please check your local state laws and play responsibly and at your own risk.
Is Stake Legal In India?
Stake is legal in some states in India, but it is complicated to pin it down under a simple yes or no tag.
Gambling is strictly regulated in India except for a few activities like horse racing and lotteries. India has not tweaked the gambling laws since introducing the Information Technology Act 2000, which also does not mention online gambling.
For this reason, there is no barrier to using offshore online casinos and betting sites, such as Stake. However, gambling is a state subject in India, whether online or offline. States can levy a ban on certain gambling and betting apps if they wish.
An Instagram user with the username @sirfdelhi recently posted about the Indian government’s ban on the Stake app, but I found no specific information about which state banned the app. You can check the post below.
The second slide of the same post showed a screenshot of Stake’s official handle and how the user could not access it due to the account not being available in India.
Summing up the reality of betting apps like Stake in India, some users can easily access everything related to them; others cannot.
Individual states like Andhra Pradesh and Telangana recently made moves to ban all forms of real money and online gambling.
Even states like Karnataka and Tamil Nadu tried to introduce similar bans on online gambling and betting sites but were struck down by the high court as the move was deemed unconstitutional.
Why Is Stake Not Working In India?
If you currently reside in Telangana or Andhra Pradesh, you won’t be able to access Stake as it is banned by state law.
If you do not live in the states mentioned above and still cannot use Stake, then in that case, it is best to check for the new laws that your state just passed on the betting and gambling app to make sure that the app is not banned.
Alternatively, if there is no such law restricting online betting and casino platforms like Stake, you can try accessing its official mirror website, ‘stake.bet.’
What Countries Is Stake Illegal In?
At present, Stake is illegal in the countries listed in the table below:
| Region | Restricted Countries |
|---|---|
| North America | USA (exceptions for residents of New Jersey) |
| South America | Colombia, Cuba, Curaçao |
| Africa | Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Liberia, Libya, Sudan, South Sudan, Zimbabwe |
| Europe | Austria, Belgium, Belarus, UK, Czechia, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Lithuania, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Serbia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland |
| Middle East | Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, Israel, Syria |
| Asia | Pakistan, North Korea |
| Australasia | Australia |
How To Use Stake In India
If you are not a resident of a restricted state in India, you can follow the steps below and use Stake.
Step 1: Create an account on the Stake website (If it is not banned in your state)
Step 2: Verify your identity through KYC. Your residence, date of birth, and address will be verified during the sign-up process. You will also be required to upload a government-issued photo ID, such as a passport and an accepted address document.
Step 3: Deposit funds using cryptocurrencies like Ethereum or Bitcoin, or you can use fiat options like UPI or Netbanking.
Step 4: You can now start betting on sports bettings or various casino games.
Some users are facing trouble accessing the Stake.com site in India. And the reason for this, indeed, cannot be known. However, some Reddit users have found a workaround by accessing the mirror site ‘stake.bet’.
Check the screenshot attached below.
You can access the Reddit post here and check it for more related comments.
Can You Use A VPN To Join Stake If It Is Not Available At Your Location?
You cannot use a VPN to access stake if it is unavailable in your region.
According to Stake’s terms and conditions, if you use a VPN to circumvent your real location, Stake can permanently deactivate or suspend your account.
This means Stake will forfeit any past deposits made to your account or any winnings received from the platform.
I have seen many comments on social media sites where people use VPNs to access Stake despite being unavailable in their regions. You can find the original post here.
You must do your research before registering on any betting or casino platform and not follow any blind advice from random social media comments.
A Brief Overview Of The Indian Online Gambling Laws
Gambling is strictly regulated and influenced by India’s historical, cultural, and regulatory factors. The only types of gambling that is legal in India are horse racing, lotteries, and rummy.
Critics of the act claim it can lead to major corruption, crime, and money laundering. At the same time, the proponents of regulated gambling argue that it can be a steady source of revenue for the government.
The Gaming Act of 1845 and the Betting Act of 1853 were prominent laws in British India. However, most of these laws were enacted before the concept of online or virtual gambling existed, which led to excluding such online betting and gambling platforms from the laws.
After independence, some states adopted the Gaming Act as their fundamental law, while others created their own laws. The Information Technology Act of 2000 also does not specifically mention the word online gambling, leaving a gray area in the legal landscape.
Online gambling is still in its infancy in India, and it is a state issue. We hope that clear regulations will eventually be implemented across all states.
Also Read:
Summarizing: Stake Is Not Banned Throughout India
The legality of using Stake.com in India largely depends on the state in which you currently reside, as betting and gambling are largely a state subject in India.
Some states have banned online gambling, whereas some do not have any concrete laws against it that allow people to use online betting and gambling apps like Stake.
Using VPNs from states that have banned apps like Stake could result in your account being suspended and frozen. Hence, it is best not to try to circumvent the system.
It is always wise to stay current on news about platforms like Stake and comply with local rules and regulations.
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