More facts a& figures from India as the state of Maharashtra confirms itself as the online gambling capital + Bollywood stars casino arrests! (Photo by Ankita Gkd on Pixabay)
The online casino market in India is starting to boil on the iGaming newswires as the topic of gambling continues to hit headlines in the world’s second most populated country (quickly catching up with China).
Just two days ago, the country was hitting the headlines as an official draft was released calling for a new iGaming Regulatory Authority in India as well as outlining some of the regulations that the country can put in place in order to create a unified framework across all states.
NEWSFLASH – scroll down for the scoop on why famous Bollywood stars could face large fines or even jail time for their part in an illegal gambling scheme. Did they know what they were doing? Or were they acting out of good faith? We’ll let you do the detective work.
In fact, this India Casino Gossip continued is a two part affair. One for those of you that want to get into the celebrity casino criminal investigation saga, and another news piece for all you stats gurus out there looking for more information on the growth of online gambling in India. Let’ begin with the latter.
NEWSFLASH 2 – Following the news of a draft released containing the perquisites for an online gambling regulatory authority in India, there was another interesting study released, which by-and-large confirms the current focus on the industry. India’s second most populated state in the country has been crowned with having the highest number of online casino players. My next questions are… How good is your geography? Do you know which state it is? Or can you take an educated or lucky guess? Check out the spoiler below!
Which online casinos do players in India play? Many of these establishments are operated by overseas entities. You can see a comprehensive list on the India online casino page where you will find that many of these platforms operate under MGA (Malta Gaming Authority) and Curacao licensing frameworks.
Maharashtra Boasts the Highest Number of Online Casino Players
Among the six Tier-1 metropolises, Maharashtra is a powerhouse. It brings in more than a quarter of all casino visitors and is also the state that has the highest number of online casino players. Online gambling is a highly popular pastime in India, mainly because of its convenient and affordable options. Moreover, the country’s internet networks have improved, and there are now more affordable data packages available. In particular, the growth in mobile devices and e-payments will continue to drive natural growth.
The country’s leading urban centres include Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore and Hyderabad. These metropolitan areas have a strong consumerist culture and superior technological infrastructure. Plus, these cities have over 350 million middle-class residents, making them strong driving forces for online gambling. Furthermore, online gambling as a growing sector is benefiting from a growing economy and a young, tech-savvy population. which stand to reason as to why the growth will be naturally fueled by cheaper data packages and the continued increased use of mobile devices.
According to ICLG, the country’s gambling laws and regulations are currently at the state level, with most states prohibiting betting on games of chance and prohibiting casino games, while some states allow skill gaming. For example, the Meghalaya Regulation of Gaming Act recently passed by the state permits operators to offer online games of chance. This will possibly mean games such as Andar Bahar, Teen Patti and Hindi Roulette, all found within the Evolution live casino games portfolio, will continue to attract more players, especially on the live casino scene.
Gambling is also popular in states like Telangana, which has a high-tech sector and large proportion of young professionals. Telangana also has the highest gambling propensity, ranking ahead of states like Andhra Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.
The YSRCP-Nepal Casino Case Brings Charges Against Bollywood Actors
Several YSRCP leaders, including former ministers, are facing allegations of participation in illegal casino activities. In addition, the ED has also been investigating claims of money laundering. It has registered a case against alleged casino dealer Chikoti Praveen Kumar under the Foreign Exchange Management Act. The ED has alleged that casino agents used celebrities to promote gambling trips. They also allegedly used hawala channels to convert Indian rupees into Nepali currency and facilitated the transfer of stakes to punters.
As a result, owners and agents are suspected of violating the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA). They are also accused of organising gambling junkets for privileged Indians in Nepal and Bangladesh. Casinos are legally allowed in Indonesia and Nepal. However, the ED is investigating whether the agents used actors to mask hawala transactions. It has also gathered key evidence that many Bollywood and Tollywood actresses were involved in casino promotional activities.
The casino organiser charged different rates for different countries. He also charged lakhs for accommodation, food, and drinks for each trip, which allegedly flew out up to 200 people. He also arranged chartered flights for gamblers and invited several Tollywood and Bollywood actors to casino events in Nepal. As a result, several actors are involved in the conspiracy including Rahul Sipligunj, Ameesha Patel and Nora Fatehi. Also, several other Tollywood and Bollywood stars attended the birthday celebrations of casino organiser Chikoti Praveen Kumar, to which he posted promotional videos of the event on his social media pages.
No one likes a casino scam: If you goal is to avoid scams and the horrors of gambling, then make sure you research the industry through our iGaming portal. A great place to start is by looking at the features these online gambling establishments have to earn the right to join the growing list of reputable casinos.
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