The online gambling industry in India is growing at a rapid pace in the last several years.

The Public Gaming Act of 1867 is the only federal gambling law in India. The law makes it illegal to run a brick-and-mortar (land-based) gambling establishment with some exceptions.

Despite this law, Indian states can enact laws legalizing real money gambling.

For instance, it’s legal to bet on cricket and various other sports in Sikkim. Several huge gambling brands are working on becoming licensed bookmakers in the state of Sikkim.

We expect India to undergo more gambling legalization and regulation in the next ten years.

While the government has been slow-moving on legalizing online gambling, they’re missing out on millions in tax revenue. In 2018, the Law Commission of India (LCI) recommended legalizing sports betting online, as regulation would make it safer for Indians to place wagers.

Last year, the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) estimated that the online sports betting handle exceeds ₹3 lakh crore. The FICCI also estimates that the government is missing out on up to ₹19,000 crore in annual tax revenue by not regulating online gambling.

How Big Will the Indian Gambling Market Become?

Online gambling statistics from India are hard to come by, but some experts have made estimates.

In 2019, it was estimated that the regulated gambling industry was worth ₹6200 crore. By 2024, that number is expected to grow to ₹25,000 crore. The potential value of gambling in India is massive.

There are over 400 million internet users in India and that number is expected to grow to 700 million by 2024. Surveys have estimated that nearly 40% of internet users in India like to gamble.

That’s a huge player base for you to market your online gambling website to.

It’s also estimated that 80% of Indians gamble at least once annually. Horse racing, which is legal in India remains extremely popular, but online betting on cricket, hockey and football is growing.

Why Growth in the Gambling Industry Will Continue for Years

Here are some of the reasons experts expect the Indian gambling industry to continue growing.

1. Federal Legalization/Regulation: While this may be far out, if the government legalizes all online gambling, India would quickly become one of the biggest gambling markets.
   While some Indians are concerned about the impacts of gambling, the benefits of legalizing and regulating the industry (safety, transparency, revenues, etc.) far outweigh any negatives.
2. Young Population: There are nearly 1.4 billion people living in India and it’s estimated that nearly half of the population is under the age of 25 years old.
   The younger generation grew up gaming and are more open to gambling than older generations, so the experts expect adoption of online gambling will grow faster among Indians aged 18-25.
3. Smartphone Penetration: By 2022, it’s estimated that 859 million Indians will have access to a smartphone. Gambling growth has been fueled by low-cost smartphones.
   Estimates place mobile gambling transactions at 70% of all gambling transactions worldwide. That number is likely even bigger in India, as most Indians prefer gambling on smartphones.
4. Growing IT Sector: While not directly related to online gambling, in 2019, there were 275 online game development companies in the country. That’s up from just 25 in 2010.
   A strong and growing IT sector will trickle to the online gambling industry. Once more developers see the profits they can earn from gambling, we expect strong growth in casino game development.
5. Digital Payments: Lastly, digital payments will ensure online gambling continues to grow. By 2022, it’s estimated that 300 million Indians will be using digital payments.

Gambling with cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin (BTC) is popular, but there are also localized digital payment companies that are becoming popular among gamblers in India.

Start a Gambling Website in India Today

As you can see from the data above, the online gambling industry is growing rapidly in India.

When you partner with us, you can launch your own bookie that includes a sportsbook, racebook (horse racing), casino and poker room. You’ll have an all-in-one offshore gambling platform.

By partnering with us and keeping your business offshore, you won’t have legal problems.

Bookies operating gambling dens in India are frequently arrested, but online betting isn’t illegal for Indians as long as you keep the business offshore, which is exactly what we provide.

With so much money entering the online gambling industry in India, now is the perfect time to start a gambling website using licensed casino games and the best bookie software.

A fixer (also known as a sattebaj or bookie) is a growing profession throughout India.

Have you read the countless stories in newspapers and online media about fixers in India going from “rags to riches”? Often these stories end badly for the fixer.

It’s illegal to operate as a fixer in India, yet it’s not illegal for online bookies to operate within the country. We offer Indians the ability to launch an offshore real money gambling website.

The players you recruit to gamble on your website will be able to wager 24/7 on sports, horses, casino games and/or poker games on a computer (PC/laptop), tablet or mobile device.

Typical Day in the Life of an Indian Fixer

The majority of fixers are small-time players that carve out enough profits to live comfortably, but some of the biggest fixers with agents working for them live lavish upscale lifestyles.

One problem with the fixer industry in India is the lack of technology utilized.

Most fixers in India use their mobile phone and paper/pen to track wagers. A bettor will call the fixer and place a bet, but this has become a huge problem in India.

Why? Well, the authorities are tracking phones of suspected fixers.

How do fixers in India avoid the law? Based on stories directly from fixers, they spend time in the many private clubs throughout India where hundreds of locals are betting on sports.

Trying to track a hundred mobile phones is more difficult than tracking one, so staying in areas where there are other sports bettors and bookies operating is the smartest strategy.

Don’t forget to change your SIM card frequently as well if you use your phone regularly.

One area where fixers in India outperform other countries is the cooperation among themselves.

Here’s what a typical day may look like for an Indian fixer:

• Clients Call in Wagers: The fixer wakes up and will track the bets that his players are making. Most fixers will accept wagers on mobile devices or in-person.

• Balancing the Action: A small fixer may not have the funds to payout a big bet. So, what does that fixer need to do? They need to go to the fixer above them to lay off some action.

The big fixers in India will gladly take the big bets from small fixers and pay them a commission.

If you know you aren’t bankrolled to handle a new player, don’t. Reach out to a fixer in your city with a bigger betting sheet and offer them the action for a small commission (2%-3%).

This is common with fixers throughout India. You’ll get to know them quickly once you start hanging out at the private clubs where the rest of the fixers spend most of their time.

Gain an Edge By Utilizing Technology

When you partner with us, you’re going to have the edge on most fixers where you live.

You’ll have state-of-the-art technology to run your fixer business online. Your players will no longer need to call you to place bets, which not only saves you time, but is way safer.

Authorities can’t track your mobile phone when you don’t need to use it, right?

Here are just some of the benefits of becoming a fixer using our software:

• Software: Your players will be able to sign-in to your website on a computer or mobile device and place bets 24/7 on thousands of different betting markets.

This will also increase the turnover of your players. A player may call in a bet or two on the phone, but it’s a lot easier to make multiple bets online without having to talk to anyone.

Your players will also be able to analyze all of the betting markets. They may find some markets they didn’t even know they could bet on previously, which will increase turnover.

• Call Center: Your players will still be able to call in wagers if they prefer, but they won’t need to bug you. We operate a 24/7 call center with English-speaking reps for our fixer clients.

• Data Tracking: Fixers can track every single wager placed by every single player using the detailed reporting features we provide from the admin panel of our fixer software.

• Security: By performing everything online through us, authorities won’t be able to track your offshore business. The extra layer of security we provide fixers is a big selling point in India.

Make your life as a fixer easier and safer by partnering with us to run your business.

Whether you refer to yourself as a bookie, sattebaj or fixer, you need to avoid common mistakes.

Not only will mistakes in this business cost you money and potentially loyal clients, but if you make a big enough mistake, it could end up being the end of your entire business.

We’re here to teach you about common mistakes made by bookies in India.

However, we’re also here to prevent bookies in India from making mistakes to begin with.

Make sure you read our article on How to Start a Bookie Business in India to learn how we manage most of the day-to-day operations of your business, while you source new active players.

What’s the Biggest Mistake Bookies Are Guilty Of?

• Slow Paying Clients: The #1 mistake bookies make is slow paying players. It’s important that you maintain at least 20% of the credit you issue to players as a reserve fund (bankroll).

Some weeks one of your losing players may not be able to pay you. That doesn’t allow you to stiff or slow pay a client that won. This is why we recommend always maintaining a reserve fund.

This bankroll is to be solely used to payout your players if required. In a perfect world, you’ll never need to touch this money, but having it will ensure the longevity of your sattebaj business.

What happens if you slow pay a client? Not only will they likely leave, but they’ll spread the news that you took too long to pay them and that you shouldn’t be trusted as a fixer.

If that happens, that could be the end of your business, especially if your players know each other.

Top Four Mistakes Bookies Make

Apart from the #1 mistake bookies make, here are the next four common mistakes to avoid.

• Inaccurate Odds: Have you heard the term “sharp odds”? Essentially, that means your odds are in line with the market, but far too often bookies have inaccurate odds.

We handle odds management, which you’ll know if you read the article linked above.

You’ll never have inaccurate odds when you use our bookie software. We use the best data feeds in the industry and employ a team of oddsmakers to ensure our betting lines are sharp 24/7.

• Greed: Money is flowing into your accounts and your lifestyle has changed for the better, but don’t allow greed to get in the way of making the best decisions for your business.

Here’s an example:

You have 20 guys with a $250 credit limit (Our software uses $USD). You allow one of those guys to build up a $500 debt after extending him an extra $250 of credit.

As much as you feel that the player now owes you that $500, you need to be smart. If the player is trying to refuse payment, sometimes you just have to cut your losses with that guy.

What’s worse – losing out on $500 or potentially losing your business to the authorities? If a player is disgruntled enough or under pressure from his family, there’s no telling what that person may do.

• Flouting Rules/Law: We know some fixers in India that have had success and made lots of money, but some of them flout the laws/rules in place in India.

Keep in mind, you’re still an unlicensed sattebaj operating in India. If you make $100,000 as a bookie, but only claim $20,000 on your taxes, you can’t be driving around town in a new Mercedes-Benz.

Do you understand what we’re saying? You’re going to have to break some rules as a booke in India, but make sure you do your best to keep your head down and remain anonymous.

The entire neighborhood shouldn’t know what business you’re in.

• Choosing Your Customers: Volume is the name of the game as a bookie, but you should still be selective about who you’re allowing to become a customer of your business.

You shouldn’t allow every customer to join your bookie. How do you know what they do or who they may be associated with? You don’t. This is often the downfall of a lot of fixers in India.

Stick to sourcing players from people you know personally or through referrals.

However, even with referrals, be careful. Tell your players you want them to tell you any time they give your contact details out and ask them about the person they have referred.

Whether it’s a well-known stiff (sports bettor that doesn’t pay) or even potentially the authorities, there are some customers that you simply want nothing to do with as a bookie.

Don’t let the fast money cloud your judgement or else you may be closing up shop before you know it. We’ll help to ensure that our clients are shielded as best we can.

For instance, our clients can remain anonymous and pay us using cryptocurrencies if they want.

These five common mistakes made by bookies can be avoided now that you know about them.