Is 1xBet Legal in India? An Expert Take on 1xBet's Legal Status and Ban

Let's get straight to the point.

1xBet could now be illegal due to the new Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, which explicitly prohibits all types of real money gaming, including betting with offshore bookmakers.

Previously, India lacked a central law banning 1xBet and similar gambling websites from operating, and there were no specific regulations allowing these sites and apps to function freely.

In addition, the law governing betting sites with offshore gaming licenses was fragmented across states. A few states implemented special laws to prohibit them from operating, while the rest took no proactive or stringent measures to ban them.

It's unclear if 1xBet is still banned in India, as its sportsbook remains accessible nationwide. Reports also indicate promotional ads appearing on ATM machines, Uber vehicles, and metro stations. So, is 1xBet banned or not?

There is not much clarity around whether or not the 1xBet betting app is banned in the country.

Concerns about 1xBet's ban surfaced especially after the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology took action against offshore gambling operations in 2023.

This crackdown resulted in the banning of about 170 websites associated with online betting and gambling, including well-known names like 1xBet and Parimatch.

Also see: Is Parimatch Legal?

A number of legal experts, particularly those focused on the gaming sector, remarked on the importance of setting a precedent. However, they also expressed concerns about the uncertainty surrounding the government's ability to take legal action against offshore betting apps such as 1xBet.

We're not legal experts, but from a layman's point of view, these apps, operated offshore, likely don't fall under Indian law. While the government can impose a ban on these operators, labelling them as illegal is more complicated than it seems.

1xBet is generally safe to use. While it's banned in a few countries like the UK, it's considered a legitimate Indian bookmaker with a valid license from a reputable gaming authority in Curaçao.

That being said, there have been a few instances where users have expressed concerns over the delay in withdrawals, processing their KYC documents, among other things. Read our 1xBet review for more information.

If you're uncertain about the legality of 1xBet in your state or whether you can register with the bookmaker, don’t worry.

Here’s a handy list of key questions to help you out.