Esports and sports in India
India is a country crazy about sports and you only have to look at the Indian Premier League for a good example of this. Alongside cricket, other sports ranging from basketball and football to volleyball and horse racing are also big news in the nation. However, esports has also proven to be a big hit in the country. In India, eSports accounted for about 4% of all online gaming users and 9.13% of the overall FY20 online gaming market aggregate revenue.
The growth of esports cash awards was 123.3% during 2016-2018. Of course, this growing number has attracted gaming enthusiasts to become pros. But still, there is currently not much room for professional gamers in India, as the infrastructure and economy are not ready to support a livelihood for these gamers. However, there are other avenues that can be explored in the gaming industry.
People can choose, for example, a career in game commenting, to be an influencer, to be a programmer who can write code to build AI for games. And of course, get the chance to become a professional esports gambler. All of this shows that it's not just regular sports that are keeping people entertained in India.
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What is sports and esports betting?
You'll probably know all about sports betting as it usually just means betting on the winner of specific sporting events such as in an IPL match or a football match in the English Premier League. As with sports, there are different ways to bet money on esports. There are several types of bets, the most widespread are the bets on the winner of the match, also known as “Moneyline bets”. So, you bet on the winner of a match.
There are also long term bets. In this example, bets on the outcome of a tournament or leagues are possible. And there are also special bets, depending on the bookmaker. Typically, special bets are like "how many games will team X win?". Here at Strafe.com you have the top sports bookies and the best eSports betting sites to get started today, including sites operating in India. We'll talk about that later.
Top Esports and Sports Betting Sites in India
There are more and more sports betting sites that are gaining popularity around the world, and especially in India.
We at Strafe.com have selected some interesting bookmakers for Indian punters.
Bet365
One of the leading sports and esports bookies, Bet365 is known for its incredible range of betting and tournament options.
The site's layout is user-friendly, attractive and offers betting on games such as StarCraft, CS:GO and Dota 2, as well as all top sports like cricket, football and basketball. There are several payment method options for deposits and withdrawals, including Indian e-wallets such as PhonePe.
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Jeetwin
Jeetwin wants to become the best sportsbook for the Indian market. According to JustGamblers reports, the bookmaker has what it takes to dominate the scene.
The reason they are so popular is that they focus their attention on the India market. This means that you can place bets using your local currency as well.
Also find out about sports and eSports betting sites in Philippines!
Buff Bet
Buff Bet is another bookmaker serving sports and eports betting enthusiasts in India and internationally.
There are several betting options for you on their website. Fans watch game Twitch feeds and place bets while the action is happening for esports and you'll also get a good range of options for enjoying live sports betting.
Betway
Another popular bookmaker in India is Betway. The site has adapted its platform to the country and accepts INR bets. There are betting odds on Rocket League, Dota 2, League of Legends, CS:GO and many other esports, and you'll find the full range of bets on all major and minor sports.
Placing a bet on an esports event or sporting match is simple, and Betway even lets you live-stream many of their sports and esports events for free!
Betway makes it super-easy for Indian players to deposit using UPI, NetBanking, Paytm, PhonePe and other convenient methods. According to various forums, Betway can be considered one of the most favorite Indians.
What Payment Methods Are Used For Sports and Esports Betting in India?
We at Strafe.com know how deposit or withdrawal methods at a bookmaker can affect the entire betting experience. Therefore, we analyzed and found that betting in India is easy to do, however funding your gaming account by depositing with Indian Rupees is not always easy.
The reason for this? Indian banks do not go hand in hand with online gambling. For example, if you try to deposit by Visa, Mastercard or transfer, you may notice some flaws.
We understand more than anyone how frustrating this can be, but luckily there is a solution to this problem! Ideally, you should get an e-Wallet, just like you can find on sports and eSports betting sites in Canada.
How to Deposit With Rupees Using an Electronic Wallet
E-Wallets (or electronic wallets) are basically very convenient bank accounts because these payment methods are supported by the vast majority of online bookmakers offering sports and esports betting in India.
The best known are Skrill and Neteller. After creating your account in one of them, you can fund your electronic wallet using a debit card or by making a bank transfer.
And rest assured when using e-Wallets, as Indian banks have nothing against Skrill or Neteller. When using a Visa or Mastercard, your deposited rupees will be immediately credited to your e-Wallet.
The use of electronic wallets is an advantageous option in other respects as well. Cash outs are much faster as there is no transaction time between the bookmaker and e-Wallet. In other words, as soon as a withdrawal is processed, you will receive the money immediately! Amazing, right?
E-wallets are also more secure than using credit cards as you never have to give out sensitive information. We at Strafe.com place great value on the safety of our readers.
Just be aware of two disadvantages when using e-Wallets:
- Some gambling sites will not allow you to use their welcome bonus if you deposit with Skrill or Neteller.
- When making transfers between an e-Wallet and a bank account, some lower fees will also apply.
Top Sports and Esports Games to Bet on in India
All good bookies in India will let you bet on a massive range of sports from popular sports like cricket, football and basketball all the way through to boxing, tennis and even niche sports like snooker and darts. Indian bettors can also bet on a wide variety of esports provided by bookmakers. This includes betting on smaller events as well as major tournaments.
Some of the tournaments that attract the most attention are those with the best Indian electronic sports players, of course. For example, Krish “MooN” Gupta has a lot of fans starring in the Dota 2 tournaments, so those fans would probably bet on this market. Here is some more information about the rise of esports betting in India.
PUBG Betting in India
PUBG or Battlegrounds by PlayerUnknown is another game that moves the Indian sports betting market. The game itself is extremely popular in the country, because it's easy to broadcast, you can voice chat with friends while you play, and the game is designed to boost your adrenaline and speed it up!
Overall, it is estimated that there are around 15 million daily active game users in India and up to 40 million monthly users.
This game is inspired by the Japanese movie 'Battle Royale' and is based on the concept of the last player or squad.
PUBG can involve up to 100 players who parachute into an isolated land and fight for survival with whatever weapon they can find. The last person or squad alive wins.
PUBG betting markets are offered on major sports betting sites such as Bet365, Unikrn and Parimatch.
Dota 2 betting in India
Dota 2 belongs to the MOBA (multiplayer online battle arena) genre of eSports and has gathered a large following among eSports fans.
As a gambler, it is important that you have some knowledge of how to play in order to bet successfully. Bookmakers offer various special bets for Dota 2, from smaller events to qualifiers and the most prestigious tournaments.
As one of the biggest eSport games in Asia, many Indians want to venture out and bet on the game. You can look forward to lots of fun betting alternatives.
League of Legends Betting in India
The most played game in the world is present in eSports betting in India. Bookmakers and bookmakers love League of Legends (LoL).
LoL is similar to Dota 2, as the objective of the game is basically the same: you control the hero and must attack the enemy base while defending yours. The difference is that LoL is simpler to understand compared to Dota 2, which can be complex at first glance.
CS: GO betting in India
CS:GO is one of the games that Indian eSport bookmakers offer the most odds. There are many tournaments and competitive matches going on.
Bets on this game are undoubtedly the most popular to bet on. It's like cricket in the sports betting world.
Betting possibilities in CS:GO include the most common ones like Match Winner, Number of Maps won, Number of Kills and also more specific options like Which team will win the pistol round, Knife Kills, Molotov Kills, Grenade Kills and much more.
What are esports?
Esports has established itself as a real sport in many countries. Basically, esports is an abbreviation for ‘electronic sports’.
Esports is a form of sports competition that uses video games and online games on computers. It is often organized in multiplayer video games, particularly between professional players, individually or in teams. Players earn millions and are celebrated as heroes by fans.
The popularity of esports has grown rapidly in India as internet availability has improved across the country. For this reason, some major sports startups were created, such as JetSynthesys, Cobx Gaming and Nodwin Gaming.
Today, the esports industry in India is estimated to be worth INR 43.8 billion and is expected to increase to INR 118.8 billion by 2023.
It does not stop there! Esports dominated the market in India mainly because of the strong presence of online streaming platforms like Youtube and Twitch. The word “esports” is becoming more and more popular thanks to online multiplayer games like PUBG and Fortnite. Still, esports has a long way to catch up in terms of popular sports like cricket in India.
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The Most Popular Sports and Esports Genres in India
No prizes for guessing that cricket is easily the most popular sport in India. Millions of people regularly tune in to watch the action in the Indian Premier League, while everything from Test match cricket to one-day internationals also attract huge numbers of viewers.
However, there is much more to Indian sport than just cricket. The nation has proven to be hotbed for other sports ranging from basketball and boxing through to football, tennis and horse racing. In fact, there are remarkable few sports that don't have fans in some part of this vast nation.,
The electronic sports industry is more than a decade old and has only soared in India in recent years, with more developers and investors entering the sector.
Currently, the most common esports genres are online multiplayer battle arena (MOBA), first person shooter (FPS), fighting, card games, real battle and real-time strategy (RTS). Popular franchises include League of Legends, Dota 2 and Counter Strike.
Game development is also on the rise. In 2010, India had just 25 game developers, while now there are more than 250 joining the list annually.In addition, corporate giants like Paytm, Alibaba, Tencent and even Nazara invest heavily in the Indian gaming market, which is currently one of the top 5 countries in terms of mobile gaming.
Much of the revenue generated in esports is sponsored by companies like Asus and Oppo, which have funded the organization and promotion of esports competitions in India. Consequently, you can imagine that esports betting in India is almost catching up to regular sports betting! It's also popular in lots of other countries, check out sports and eSports betting in Australia too!
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Is Sports Betting and Esports Betting Legal in India?
So is betting on sports and esports legal in India? How does it work?
Well, there really isn't a straight answer to that. There is an old central law called The Public Gambling Act of 1867, which prohibits all gambling in India. However, it doesn't mention anything about casino games or online sports and esports betting.
Gambling in India is governed by individual states. That is, everything will depend on where you are living. Although gambling in physical establishments is illegal in many states, there is nothing to stop gaming fans from betting on electronic sports or sports such as cricket and soccer.
One option for those who have questions or concerns is to take extra precautions. The ideal is to look for an intermediary located abroad, such as Skrill or EcoPayz, so that monetary transactions are not registered as paid directly to a betting site.
You can access the gambling sites via a VPN, so privacy is guaranteed. There are some states where esports are illegal, such as Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. And the states considered legal are Goa and Sikkim. The other Indian states do not have a specific law, meaning you are safe to bet on sports and play on electronic sports online.
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How Does Sports and Esports Betting Work in India?
In India, you can register, play and deposit money in Indian Rupees at bookmakers like Betway, Bet365, Unibet and others. All bookmakers have something unique and special to offer. However, there are a handful of sites that are remarkably better than others.
To enjoy betting in India is simple. The most important thing is to find a reliable betting site that offers the best odds and a perfect trading portal. Once you've chosen a bookmaker, all you need to do is sign up on the site, create an account, make a deposit and start betting.
Sports and esports betting tips in India
Now that you know how deposits and withdrawals work and of course which sports and esports games are relevant in India, let's give you some betting tips. With these tips you'll know where to start!
Bet on what you know how about!
Bet on a game or sport that you are familiar with the tournament rules and structure of the event in question.
Focus primarily on understanding the metrics that influence game odds. So if you are a big fan of the Manchester United football team, restrict your bets to be on that team and those players and the same works for esports. For example, FPS games can be the number of kills. While MOBAs like Dota 2 are usually a bit more complex than this, the influences are going to be the structures, KDA (kills, deaths, assists) of the players and most importantly, the gold advantage.
Study Statistics
You must review past performances and metrics! This can help you predict the pattern of odds and betting outcomes. You can easily access these statistics about sports and esports online on gambling sites.
Actively participate in communities
Sports fans and esport players actively share their experiences on various forums and websites, such as Reddit. Joining a community can help you combine your research with analytics on these platforms! This way you can develop a practical understanding of the sport or game as well as betting patterns in India.
Conclusion about betting in India
Like other countries, sports and esports betting in India is here to stay! With the advancement of the internet in the country in recent years, the incentives for betting on sports and electronic sports have grown!
Currently, it is possible to bet on the most famous sports and games in the world legally within the country in addition to being able to venture into many others that are developing in the Indian market. Payment methods, which at first may seem complicated, are solved with the option of electronic wallets. It's easy then to deposit and withdraw your winnings.
We recommend that you visit the best bookmakers in India, like the ones listed above, and start betting from a more technical perspective. So, get to know the strategies, familiarize yourself with the teams, the types of bets and choose your favorite sports and games. Be adventurous and have a lot of fun!
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Sports and Esports Betting in India FAQ
🔓 Is it safe to bet on sports and esports in India?
Yes, as long as you bet on some of the sites we recommend, it's very safe. Here at Strafe.com, we are concerned about recommending bookmakers licensed and supervised by a government agency that guarantees the highest standards of safety and fantastic protection for the player. Rest assured there is no risk of scams, hackers or anything like that. These sites are serious and have millions of players around the world.
🔞 How old should I be to play online in India?
You must be at least 18 years of age to place bets. All sports and esports betting sites in India have this restriction.
🎮 Can I bet on sports and esports in Rupees?
Yes you can! Bookmakers like Bet365 and Betway allow you to place bets with deposits in Indian Rupees. It is possible to use various payment methods as well.
💰 Are sports and esports betting earnings taxed in India?
Not automatically. But you are required by law to mention your gambling profits on your annual tax return. The tax rate is around 30%.
Want to know a little more about bookmakers? Or maybe you're on the search for the latest and best promo codes for Fortnite or regular sports? You can check out various bookmaker and bonus reviews here on Strafe.com.
