Can You Bet On Horse Racing From India? (2026 Law Explained)

Last updated: 4 October 2026. This page is a general guide to the law, not legal advice. The rules in India are changing and are being challenged in court.

The short answer: since 1 May 2026, online real-money betting has been banned across India under the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025. Betting on horse racing at the racecourse, through a licensed turf club, is still legal under state racing laws. Betting online, including with overseas bookmakers, is not.

An older version of this page recommended an overseas bookmaker for Indian customers. That advice is out of date and we have removed it.

What the Online Gaming Act bans

The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025 was passed in August 2025, and its rules came into force on 1 May 2026. It bans:

• offering online money games, whether based on skill or chance;
• advertising them; and
• processing payments for them.

The Act applies across India and overrides state laws that conflict with it. The government has blocked thousands of betting websites. Legal challenges to the Act are being heard by the Supreme Court.

E-sports and social games with no money stakes are allowed, subject to registration.

Is horse racing betting still legal in India?

On course, yes. Horse racing has long been treated differently from other gambling in India. The Supreme Court has held that betting on horse racing is a game of skill, and state racing laws allow betting through licensed turf clubs, such as:

• Royal Western India Turf Club (Mumbai and Pune)
• Bangalore Turf Club
• Hyderabad Race Club
• Royal Calcutta Turf Club (Kolkata)
• Madras Race Club (Chennai)
• Mysore Race Club
• Delhi Race Club

You can bet on the tote, and with licensed on-course bookmakers, at these clubs and at their authorised off-course centres.

Online is different. The Online Gaming Act makes no exception for horse racing. Some turf-club online betting services have reportedly shut down since the Act came in, and the position of others is unclear. Karnataka has proposed its own law to allow online racing betting, which may lead to a dispute with the central government. Check with your turf club for its current position before you bet online.

What about overseas bookmakers?

Using an overseas betting site from India breaks the ban on online money games, and payments to these sites can be blocked. You also have no local protection if something goes wrong with your account or winnings. We don’t recommend it.

Indian racing tips on EveryTip

We publish free tips for Indian race meetings for punters betting legally on course. See our tips for Bangalore, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mysore and Delhi.

Sources

• SCC Online: MeitY notifies enforcement of the Online Gaming Act (23 April 2026)
• India Briefing: online gaming regulation in 2026
• MediaNama: Karnataka online horse racing betting bill

Gamble responsibly. Only bet what you can afford to lose.