Both Mostbet and 1Win operate under Curaçao eGaming licences (formerly administered by Curaçao Government and transitioning to the new Curaçao Gaming Authority under updated 2024 legislation). Curaçao is a Dutch Caribbean island nation that has issued online gambling licences since 1996 — making it one of the world's oldest and most established iGaming regulatory jurisdictions.
While Curaçao licensing is less stringent than Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) or UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) licences in terms of player protection requirements, Curaçao-licensed operators do adhere to baseline standards: independent RNG audits are required for game certification, a dispute resolution mechanism must be available to players, and anti-money laundering compliance is mandatory. Unlicensed offshore sites operate with zero regulatory oversight — the difference between a licensed and unlicensed operator is significant from a consumer protection standpoint.
When playing at any offshore casino as an Indian resident, your primary consumer protection mechanism is the casino's reputation and its licence. Large, established operators like Mostbet (operating since 2009 with millions of registered users globally) and 1Win (established 2016) have strong incentives to honour withdrawals and maintain fair gameplay — their business model depends on it. Rogues are more likely to be found among smaller, newer, or unlicensed platforms.
The 2023 MeitY Framework and Its Implications for Players
The IT (Intermediary Guidelines) Amendment Rules 2023 represent India's first central government attempt to regulate online gaming at scale. The framework established three Self-Regulatory Organisations (SROs) mandated to certify "permitted online real money games" — games of skill that will be subject to lighter-touch regulation compared to games of chance.
The skill versus chance debate is central to crash games' regulatory position. The government's framework suggests games "where the outcome depends predominantly on the skill of the player" are to be treated more favourably. While crash games are primarily chance-based (the crash point is determined by RNG), the strategic elements — auto-cashout calibration, dual-bet hedging, bankroll management — create a genuine skill component that may influence how these games are ultimately classified under Indian law.
As of March 2026, the SRO framework is not yet operational — SROs have been constituted on paper but certification processes have not commenced. Offshore operators are outside this framework entirely. The regulatory uncertainty is expected to persist through at least 2027, based on public statements from MeitY officials and the pace of SRO implementation.
State-Specific Restrictions — Practical Impact
The state-level restrictions in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana are the most practically impactful for Indian crash game players. Both states have amended their gambling laws to specifically include online games, and their police forces have conducted enforcement actions against payment gateways facilitating online gambling transactions.
Players in AP and Telangana face the highest risk of payment processing difficulties — banks in these states may be more aggressive in blocking casino transactions than banks in other Indian states. The practical workaround for AP/Telangana players is cryptocurrency deposits (which bypass state-level banking restrictions entirely) and using VPN services (note: VPN use for accessing blocked content may itself have legal implications under IT Act provisions).
Maharashtra and Karnataka have gaming law amendments that have been challenged in court. The Karnataka High Court partially stayed the Karnataka Police Act Amendment 2021, creating a regulatory limbo. Tamil Nadu's Online Gambling Prohibition Act was struck down by the Madras High Court in 2021 but a revised version was enacted in 2022 and remains subject to ongoing legal challenges. Players in these states face an evolving and uncertain regulatory environment.
For the majority of Indian states — including Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra (pending court resolution), Rajasthan, Gujarat, Bihar, West Bengal, and all northeastern states — online gambling via offshore platforms falls into an unregulated grey area with no specific prohibition and minimal enforcement risk for individual players.
Tax Filing Practical Guide for Indian Casino Players
Indian casino players who receive winnings above ₹10,000 per transaction will have 30% TDS deducted automatically by the casino. This does not mean your total tax liability is discharged — you must still declare these winnings in your Income Tax Return.
In your ITR filing (Form ITR-1 for most individuals or ITR-2 if you have capital gains): navigate to Schedule OS (Other Sources). Enter your total online gaming winnings for the year under "Income from lottery, gambling or horse racing." The 30% tax rate is fixed — it does not aggregate with other income for rate purposes. Claims of set-off against losses from gambling are not permitted under Section 74(4) of the Income Tax Act.
If the casino has deducted TDS, the TDS amount appears in your Form 26AS (available on the income tax e-filing portal) after the casino files its TDS return. Reconcile this against your declared winnings. The TDS you have already paid offsets your final tax liability. If your total tax liability is lower than TDS deducted (unusual given the 30% rate), you may be entitled to a refund.
Consulting a chartered accountant with online gaming income experience is strongly recommended for players with winnings above ₹1,00,000 per year. The intersection of online gaming tax, crypto taxation (if applicable), and regular income tax involves nuances that can result in significant over- or under-payment if not handled correctly.