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.

There are multiple ways a bookie can launch an online sportsbook.

You could develop software in-house, lease software and data feeds (betting odds) or you can use a service like ours, which is completely turnkey and packed with the features bookies require.

We’re a service catering to bookies in India. Our service is called a “pay per head” (PPH) service.

We provide bookies in India with the software, support and expertise to launch an online bookie on a bootstrap budget. We only charge $10/head (a weekly fee paid for each active bettor on your list).

So, what features are included in our online bookie software package?

Online Bookie Service Features

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Here are the features we include, which you’ll gain access to when you become a bookie:

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1. Bookie Software Suite

You need the necessary software to run an online sportsbook.

Our software features a sportsbook, racebook, casino and poker room. This will allow you to cross promote the different products to increase the revenue you earn on each player.

The sportsbook has a huge betting board with a lot of bet types.

Your players will be able to bet on popular sports in India, including lots of cricket leagues. They’ll also be able to bet on international sports, including the NBA, NFL, MLB and NHL.

The football (soccer) coverage we have is massive as well. Bet on all of the top leagues from around the world, including the English Premier League, Indian Super League and many more.

In total, your players will be able to bet on 100+ sports leagues and 80+ horse racing tracks.

2. Custom Website

Our team can design a custom website based on your specifications or you can use a template.

If you’re on a limited budget, our template designs are free to use and look great, while remaining functional for your players. Your website is where your players will go to place wagers.

3. Call Center (24/7)

We also run a 24/7 call center, allowing your players to place bets over the phone. As long as your players have a mobile phone they can call the toll-free number to place a bet.

They simply provide log-in credentials to our English-speaking clerks and then place their bets.

This will give you a huge edge over your competition in India, as your players don’t need internet access to place bets. Make sure you market this feature to your players.

4. Odds Management

Our experts manage the betting odds 24/7, so that you don’t have to worry about it.

We have a team of experienced oddsmakers watching the overall betting market every second of the day. If there’s a move in the market, our team will be on top of it and update the odds.

A lot of bookie services like ours will simply lease an odds feed, but we hire in-house experts as well.

5. Accounting (Reports)

Track every wager down to the dollar using our real-time reporting features.

Our clients have access to all of the data they need to complete their accounting, but bookies need to also utilize the data to find out where they’re making/losing money.

The reports are one of our most valuable bookie tools, even though they often get overlooked.

Track your risk exposure, profits/losses, player/agent performance and more in real-time. We even have a live bet ticker and offer the ability to set-up wager alerts (email).

6. Reliability (Safe and Secure)

We’ve been in the bookie business for decades and have the expertise to help you succeed.

Not only that, but we’re reliable. We’re not some fly-by-night operation. We have a full in-house team that ensures your players and your experience using our service will be memorable.

Never worry about your bookie website going down, as we use the best technology and security features. Our servers run extremely well in India, so there are no performance issues to worry about.

Sign-Up Today to Become a Bookie in India

Join today and we’ll onboard you instantly. There’s no waiting time. We even have a free trial, so you can try our online bookie service risk-free to determine if this business is for you.

We handle nearly everything.

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These are the two main things that you’ll need to handle, though:

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• Marketing: Your #1 job is to find players that want to bet on sports/horses, play poker or play real money casino games. You need players in order to make any money.

The more players you have on your betting sheet, the more money you’ll make long-term.

We’ll share marketing tips and promotion ideas in future guides.

• Collecting Money: We don’t handle the money, that’s entirely up to you and that’s the way bookies like it. You control all of the money and need to handle the collection of money.

Here are the two ways it can work.

If a player makes a deposit with you (pays you money upfront), you can add that amount to the player’s account and they can begin gambling on your website.

The more common way is to issue your players credit, which is why it’s important to trust them. If the player loses the credit you have given them, they have to pay you that amount.

Typically, a bookie will have one day a week to collect from losers and one day to pay winners.

Starting a bookie with us couldn’t be easier or more affordable.

We want to help you get rich as a bookie in India. Contact us to learn more!

While the online gambling industry is growing rapidly in India, it’s important for fixers to understand that the most popular sports to bet on in India will generate 90%+ of their revenues.

How many friends do you have that bet on MLB (Major League Baseball)?

In India, sports betting is dominated by cricket.

Cricket Is the Biggest Profit Generator for a Sattebaj

As a sattebaj, cricket will be your main revenue generator. Billions are wagered annually on the Indian Premier League (IPL). Founded in 2008, the IPL is the most popular Twenty20 cricket league.

It has been estimated that every IPL match draws in more than ₹1000 crore (Roughly $135 million) in wagers across India with the biggest betting hubs in Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore and Surat.

The busiest time of the year for bookies is during the seven-week IPL campaign.

That’s not to say there isn’t a lot of money to be made the rest of the year, though. Due to the rabid IPL fanbase, a number of Twenty20 state cricket leagues have launched in recent years.

Here are some of the most popular T20 domestic cricket competitions that are widely bet on:

• T20 Mumbai League: Started in 2018, eight teams compete for the championship.
• Tamil Nadu Premier League: Started in 2016, there are now eight teams in the league.
• Karnataka Premier League: Started in 2009, eight teams compete for the title.
• Celebrity Cricket League: Started in 2011, the CCL features nine teams of film actors.

Twenty20 cricket isn’t all that’s popular in India – there are lots of other competitions.

Some of the other popular cricket competitions in India throughout the year include the Ranji Trophy, Duleep Trophy, Deodhar Trophy, Vijay Hazare Trophy and the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.

If you want to be a successful sattebaj in India, you need to have a big cricket betting board.

That’s where we come in. Our oddsmakers are experienced with managing cricket betting lines and we’ll ensure you have the best odds to generate the best overall hold percentage (profit).

What Other Sports Should Bookies Focus on Promoting?

You can easily make a great living as a cricket bookie, but why pass up profits from other sports?

Here are some of the other popular sports to bet on in India:

• Hockey: For years, hockey was known as India’s National Sport, but the Sports Ministry of India has stated in recent years that India doesn’t recognize any sport as their “National Game”. Despite the controversy, hockey is still bet on by millions of Indians.

• Football: This is another extremely popular sport in India. Football fans bet on domestic leagues like the Indian Super League as well as international leagues.

The English Premier League (EPL), UEFA Champions League and other popular football leagues worldwide are watched by millions of Indians and many of them enjoy betting on the matches.

One reason football betting is growing in popularity is because of the wealth of betting markets.

Our bookie software features betting markets on all of the big domestic and international football leagues. Finding a handicapper that consistently beats the EPL is rare. You want your players to gamble on sports where gaining an edge is tough because of the huge betting volumes.

• Tennis: Your players will love to bet on the vast amount of tennis betting markets we offer on our bookie software. Tennis has grown in popularity in India since the late 1990s.

The reason tennis has become more popular is because Indian players have performed very well in mixed doubles, men’s doubles and women’s doubles. Indian tennis players including Leander Paes, Mahesh Bhupathi, Rohan Bopanna and Sania Mirza have all helped the sport grow in the country.

• Horse Racing: Indians have been betting on horse races for hundreds of years. The first racecourse in India opened in Madras in 1777. The country now has nine racetracks.

When you open a sattebaj with us, your players will be able to bet in a “racebook”.

A racebook allows a gambler to wager on horse races in India and abroad. You can earn a lot of extra revenues by having a racebook – a feature a lot of our competitors don’t offer bookies.

The Dubai World Cup Carnival is the most prestigious horse racing festival in the country.

Run an Online Poker Room Using Our Software

Teen patti and rummy may be the most popular card games in India, but poker is booming the last couple decades, as more gambling websites offer online poker rooms.

When you become a bookie in India using our software, you’ll be able to have a poker room as well where your players will be able to play for real money 24/7, earning you profits from the rake.

What’s great about offering online poker is that there’s no risk for the bookie. You earn money off of the rake you charge your players to play in cash games or tournaments (single or multi-table).

What other gambling software provider in India has the capabilities to allow new bookies to launch a sportsbook, racebook and poker room? We do all of this for a flat rate fee of just $10/head.

Read our in-depth guide on how to use our software to become a bookmaker next.