A betting exchange is an online platform where gamblers can directly place bets against each other and set odds themselves as opposed to against a traditional bookmaker. Such exchanges give punters and bettors more control over their bets and eradicate any role played by bookmakers.

A revolutionary gambling concept that can be traced back to the start of the 21st century, betting exchanges are essentially a people-to-people exchange facility that allows punters to connect and make offers to each other that are based on crowds and punters’ wisdom rather than being predetermined by bookmakers.

Such platforms enable the maximization of profits for punters and understandably upsets bookmakers since they don’t get their piece of the pie which they would via the traditional bookmaker methods of betting. As far as the platform is concerned, it generally charges an industry-low commission on the net market profit.

As already mentioned, betting exchanges are based on a peer-to-peer principle that allows punters to have equal chances of success and create their own markets. The nature of such an exchange betting facility invariably makes it more transparent and fair, offering better winning opportunities with no limits, unlike the traditional bookmakers’ route.

Which was the first betting exchange?

Flutter.com was the first betting exchange to capture punters’ imaginations and push conventional boundaries. It was founded in 2000, with a first office in London with the website going live in May shortly before Betfair was launched.

Although an online start-up, Flutter pioneered the person-to-person betting model approach, where users took the place of bookmakers to lay down odds in what was at the time a never-before-seen experiment prior to the turn of the millennia.

The odds were taken up by other users, with the hosting company taking a commission on the winnings. Flutter would offer odds in fractional form as opposed to its rival betting exchange Betfair - who followed the decimal odds system.

After deciding to outsource its system to Hanston, an Oracle database support and consulting firm, Flutter’s website grew to be quick, easy and intuitive. However, come Christmas 2001, Flutter merged with Betfair before going on to become the leading betting exchange marketplace.

The launch of Matchbook in 2004 opened the door for multiple betting exchanges to take the initiative and set up bases in Europe or around the world.

While betting exchanges initially started listing bets for horse-racing and football, the continuous growth of the internet and networking applications enabled exchanges to expand their portfolio to multiple sports as well as landmark events around the world.

As of 2021, Betfair is the top betting exchange in the international market followed by Ladbrokes and 1xBet.

The popularity of these betting exchanges have enabled them to branch out into significant tie-ups, such as Betfair being the official partner of CONMEBOL club competitions - CONMEBOL Libertadores and CONMEBOL Sudamericana - till December 31, 2022. They were also previously the sponsor for the English football team Sunderland.

Ladbrokes served as the principal sponsor of the Scottish Professional Football League while 1xBet, by far, has the biggest portfolio for such tie-ups. These include being betting partners of English giants Chelsea, Tottenham, Liverpool, Cardiff, Spain’s FC Barcelona and France’s Olympique Lyon. The Cyprus-headquartered betting exchange firm also inked partnership deals with the Serie A (Italian football’s top-flight) and CAF (Confédération Africaine de Football).

India, for one, has welcomed the operations of betting exchanges. 1xBet, BetWinner, Betadda, FairPlay, Fun88, Indibet and Cricex are some of the betting exchanges that are popular and running in the Indian market.

1xBet made their plunge into the Indian exchange market by announcing Trinidad and Tobago cricketing icon Dwayne Bravo as its first ambassador from the subcontinent.

How does a betting exchange work?

While betting exchanges offer almost similar opportunities to place bets as opposed to a traditional bookmaker, there are a few differences as well. In a betting exchange marketplace, gamblers can purchase the odds they think will generate the best outcome or purchase the odds that are expected to lose.

To get a better understanding of betting exchange, let us take an example of a cricket match between India and Australia, where you expect India to win.

Instead of placing a bet on India to win, you can simply lay a bet on Australia to lose the match. This bet is matched by another wager in the online marketplace, making it a win-win situation of sorts for all parties.

Features of betting exchanges

Back betting

When the customer places a bet for an outcome to happen, it is known as back betting. For example, if a person bets on FC Barcelona winning a match against Real Madrid, he/she wins the bet only if Barcelona beats Madrid.

Lay betting

When the customer places a bet for the outcome to not occur and plays the role of the bookmaker, it is known as lay betting. For example, if a gambler bets that FC Barcelona will not defeat Real Madrid, he/she wins the bet only if Madrid wins or the match ends in a draw.

In-play betting

As the name suggests, in-play betting exchange allows bets to be made in real-time or while in-running. These bets can happen when a match or event is in progress and usually takes place in the more popular sports that are televised the world over. Conversely, non-in-play bets happen when they are entered into the system soon after they are placed by customers.

Betting is an activity where two parties wager against each other for a chance to win a stake from an event, and it usually involves money.

A bookmaker is traditionally the first place a potential punter seeks to bet. Often a person or an organisation, a bookmaker accepts and pays off bets - from their own money - on sporting and other events based on the odds they provide.

On the other hand, a betting exchange is a free market where users can decide their bets and act as potential bookmakers.

Bookmakers can be traced back to the 1700s when horse racing and dice games were the premier activities to hold contests. Harry Odgen is historically considered the first-ever bookmaker in the world.

Odgen, during his studies, found how some horses would perform better than the actual winner and thus, he came up with specific odds on how each horse would perform.

For the first time, punters would have an opportunity to place a bet tactically rather than just deciding the winner on instinct and who looks best on paper. This meant a customer could back their favourite horse for lesser of the winning amount or take a punt on an underdog that will earn a more profitable reward if it wins.

But, the catch here is that Odgen cleverly created odds that were always in his favour, regardless of the horse race result. This policy has continued with bookmakers like William Hill, Ladbrokes, and Coral to this very day.

Technological advancement in the early 1990s allowed potential punters to learn and understand the concept of betting via multiple mediums. This gave rise to betting exchanges, a platform where customers have a say in odds and more instead of a traditional bookmaker.

From a time when a bookmaker would call the shots while placing bets, punters at a betting exchange are now given the freedom and authority to raise their stakes and also offer odds to someone else, with room for discussion.

Having understood the brief history of the two major betting platforms at present, let us dive into the key differences between bookmakers and betting exchanges.

Fixed odds vs Competitive odds

A bookmaker will have a fixed set of odds for various events. The bookmaker will pay the punter double the odds’ value if one wins.

On the flip side, a betting exchange is just a peer-to-peer betting platform that pits two customers against each other. Since the market is open and has a supply and demand approach, the competitive odds on offer allows punters to win more on a bet.

Margin vs Commission

Bookmakers offer odds at a slightly inflated margin, meaning they provide odds to a potential punter at a rate higher than the market value. This margin, which can be as much as 20 per cent, allows the bookmaker to keep some value generated from the bet placed. If the bookmaker loses a bet, they keep a portion of the waged amount. But if they win, the marginal value will add to the winning money they receive.

On the other hand, betting exchanges act as an intermediary between the two peers engaging in a bet. The platform will take a commission from the winning amount and nothing from the person who loses the bet.

Back and Lay

Back bet is when you are bet on a particular outcome to happen. For example, in an India vs Pakistan cricket match, let’s say you bet on India to win the game. If India wins, you win what’s at stake and vice versa. It is equivalent to traditional betting but here, you bet against another punter in a betting exchange.

Lay bet, in contrast, is placing a wager in favour of an event not happening. A classic example here is a Peru vs Brazil football match. If a customer lays a bet for Brazil to win, it simply means that they want the opposing team to lose the game.

Bookmakers, for one, will offer only back bets to punters given their restrictions for participating customers.

Betting exchanges, on the contrary, allow people to back and lay bets.

With a gross domestic product (GDP) of ₹32.42 trillion (around US$467 billion), Maharashtra contributes the highest to India’s GDP. Being the country's richest state, Maharashtra also plays a pivotal role in the gambling industry of India.

Its capital city Mumbai, also known as the financial capital of India, is considered to be the focal point of betting activities in the country. Interestingly, Mumbai accounts for a major share of the $150 gambling industry, with the influx coming from the illegal sports betting industry.

Gambling laws in Maharashtra

Maharashtra’s betting activities are governed under the Prevention of Gambling Act 1887, also known as the Bombay Prevention of Gambling Act 1887. The state is also regulated by the Indian gambling laws of the Public Gambling Act 1867. These laws are considered to be out of date and not suitable for use in the 21st century.

As mentioned in the seventh schedule of the Indian Constitution, state governments have the right to form their own laws for betting and so, there are different rules for different states. 

Betting and gambling: What is legal in Maharashtra?

In Maharashtra, horse racing, lotteries and games of skill are legal in the state. People can play card games like rummy and poker and can also participate on any of the fantasy apps like Dream11 or MyTeam11 which feature real-money contests. Interestingly, online betting sites and online casinos don’t find mention in the law against gambling. Therefore, people from Maharashtra can participate in offshore online casinos.

What are the punishments for committing a crime related to betting?

Under the Maharashtra Prevention of Gambling Act 1887, it is illegal to organise and run a gaming house. If caught, punishments include one-month imprisonment and a fine of INR 200. The second offence invites three months of imprisonment and a fine of 200 while the third-time offender will be put behind bars for six months.

Is gambling legal in Maharashtra?

The cash-strapped Maharashtra government has contemplated the proposal of legalising online betting or gaming to mobilise resources to boost its economy. According to a report in the Times of India, an NCP minister was quoted as saying that the present government was analysing what might happen if online sports betting and other forms of gambling were legalised.

Featured photo: Axville / Unsplash

Online casinos and websites have made gambling accessible to punters wherever they are but playing the odds in person at a physical casino has a very unique draw to it.

However, in India, casinos are legal in only three states, namely Goa, Sikkim and Daman - and hence, the physical establishments are concentrated in these three regions.

India mostly features two types of physical casinos - floating and land-based. Floating casinos can mostly be found in ships, often permanently anchored on water bodies like rivers. Land-based casinos, on the other hand, are more traditional establishments built on land.

A casino is a facility where gamblers can test their fate, intuition, skill and intelligence in different types of games. Casinos are usually constructed near or combined with hotels, resorts, restaurants, retail shopping, cruise ships and other tourist attractions. Few casinos are popular for hosting live entertainment such as stand-up comedy, concerts and sports.

Let’s have a look at some of the top land-based casinos in India:

Casino Carnival

Casino Carnival, located at the Goa Marriott Resort and Spa, was set up in 2001. It features slot machines and different types of table games including Blackjack, Baccarat, 5 Card Poker, American Roulette, Slots and Progressive Jackpots. Casino Carnival is one of the most popular casinos in India.

Casino Paradise

Considered to be one of the most popular land-based casinos in India, Casino Paradise is located in the basement of Hotel Neo Majestic in Panjim, Goa. Managed by Pride Group, Casino Paradise provides several gaming facilities comprising Baccarat, Blackjack, Mini Flush, Horse Racing, Wheel of Fortune, Tai Sai and Slot Machines.

Casino Palms

Situated within La Calypso Hotel in Baga, Goa, Casino Palms is the largest and most spacious land-based casino in North Goa. It offers an electronic gaming experience and table games such as Poker, Baccarat, Blackjack, Roulette, Teen Patti, Mang Patti and Indian Flush.

Big Daddy Casino

Big Daddy Casino is a land-based casino located on the coast of Mandovi river in Goa. It features 900 gaming positions, automatic machines and 100 tables. Big Daddy Casino offers Andar Bahar, Roulette, Baccarat, Rashi Wheel, Mini Flush, Backjack, Casino War, Indian Flush, Papplu (Indian Rummy) etc.

Casino Mahjong

Operated by Trio Ventures, Casino Mahjong is located at the Mayfair Spa Resorts in Sikkim. The Casino has a monastic theme with the colonial architecture of Sikkim. Spread across 7000 sqft, Casino Mahjong offers live gaming tables and also has a poker room with several tables. It also features a VIP gaming room and state-of-the-art slot machines.

Deltin Daman Casino 

Opened in 2017, Casino Daman is a land-based integrated resort located in Daman. It has 60,000 sq ft of gambling area with approximate 1,500 gaming positions. Casino Daman also offers more than 170 rooms and suites, restaurants, multiple banquet halls, a pool, lounge, a business centre and 24-hour gym as well as indoor games and a spa.

Featured photo: Unsplash

Investment through cryptocurrencies gathered steam across the globe in 2021 and India wasn’t one to be left out. According to Economic Times, around 20 million users jumped onto the cryptocurrency bandwagon last year and as things stand, these users hold assets worth $5.3 billion.

Bitcoin was the first and optimal choice for investors in 2021 and it comes as no surprise since it is the world’s first and most popular cryptocurrency. Ethereum emerged soon after  and it was followed by alternative currencies like Solana, Polygon, and Terraluna.

Users experimenting with the variety of options in the crypto market resulted in exchange platforms such as Wazir X and CoinSwitch Kuber also witnessing record growth not only in user sign-ups but also in transaction volumes. As per the aforementioned source, CoinSwitch Kuber recorded a 3,500 per cent rise in transaction volumes while the number was 1,735 per cent for WazirX.

As far as the user base is concerned, CoinSwitch Kuber recently crossed the 14 million mark.

“We've come a long way in 2021. We started this year with just about 1.5 million registered users and crossed 14.5 million users by the end of the year. From being a 30-member team working out of a small space in Bangalore back in January, we are already 400-strong and united in the goal of ‘making money equal for all’,” said Ashish Singhal, founder and CEO, CoinSwitch Kuber.

While there have been several new entrants in 2021, those investing in cryptocurrencies in 2020 and 2019 received handsome returns. Furthermore, 2021 also saw new demographics like youngsters and women entering the field. CoinSwitch Kuber claims that as much as 15 per cent of their total user base are women.

However, given the volatility of the crypto market, investment in the field has always been a gamble of sorts. Some stay true to their investment while many seem to panic. Regardless of that though, cryptocurrency research firm Chainalysis says that India is one of the fastest-growing markets, increasing by 641 per cent between July 2020 and June 2021.

The rise shouldn’t come as much of a surprise given how massively cryptocurrencies grew in 2021. On Jan 1, 2021, Bitcoin was at $29,374 and by December, it grew up to $48,174. Ethereum, on the other hand, was $730.37 in January and touched $3,783.48 on December 31.

Meme coins such as Shiba Inu and Dogecoin had fantastic returns as well. In October, the former had a rise in return of 828.85 per cent while the latter’s one-year return was 1,673.75 per cent.

Given such immense growth, it’s only natural that India is in the process of figuring out a proper and sustainable crypto legislation, which is bound to take some time given the intricacies and complexities that are associated with such exchanges.

Featured photo: Unsplash / Executium

The global gambling market raked in a whopping $131.1 billion in revenue in 2020 and is expected to grow by a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 11.4 per cent yearly between 2021 to 2028, according to research by Fortune Business Insights. 

The numbers in India, too, are mind-boggling. Sports betting in the country is estimated to be a $150 billion (₹ 9.9 lakh crore net worth) industry. However, it is difficult to ascertain exact figures given a lack of government agencies to track the developments in the country.

Irrespective, the numbers are expected to go up in the coming years.

Factors responsible for the growth of the betting industry

Love for cricket knows no bounds

As per MyBetting statistics, there are more than 140 million regular betters in India but the number goes up to 370 million during major tournaments like the Indian T20 League. 

An estimated 80 per cent of all sports-related bets placed in India are on cricket matches.

Apart from that, there’s a lot of unsanctioned and illegal betting that happens in India, especially in the rural areas where people lack access to internet services. The population is speculated to be more than those involved in legitimate online betting currently.

However, every industry sees unorganised markets transition to organised setups once options are made available and the betting industry is no different. With rapid digitization throughout the country, which is leading to better connectivity even in rural areas, more and more users are expected to move into the mainstream betting world in the coming years.

Enticing the new millennials 

As per the research conducted by MyBetting statistics, Indians within the age group of 18 to 24 years constitute 44 per cent of the total betting population, while 32 per cent fall within the age bracket of 25 to 34. 

Given the trend, it is evident that betting is largely synonymous with the young population who are more open to trying out new ventures. 

Urban areas and metropolitan cities lead the way

Data reveals that betting is more prevalent in the western and southern belt of India that comprises the states of Telangana, Karnataka and Maharashtra, which constitute 18.7, 13.2 and 9.6 per cent of the country’s total betting population respectively. Metropolitan cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai and Bengaluru form the heart of the online betting industry. 

Factors like widespread internet penetration, access to mobile phones and higher disposable income in the hands of people in metros have resulted in the overall growth of 20 per cent of betting users annually. 

Where does India’s future in betting lie? 

In 2018, the Law Commission of India had recommended the government for effective regularisation of betting in the country to curb the menace of illegal gambling and the boom of the black market in the country. 

Further, the Law Commission had also recommended classifying gambling into two categories, namely proper gambling (for rich who play for high stakes) and small gambling (low-income groups) 

However, there has been no change in stance from the government since. Despite the enormous potential, the future of betting in India will rely a lot on government regulations in the coming years.

Featured photo: Patrick Kovaric / AFP

Cricket and the betting industry share a close relationship.

Over the years, several top betting companies have invested heavily in various cricket leagues across the globe. They have also offered lucrative endorsement deals to popular cricketers in order to promote their betting platforms among sports gambling enthusiasts.

Here’s a list of some famous cricketers who have endorsed betting brands:

Brett Lee and Sportsbet.io

Online-based gambling company Sportsbet.io roped in Australia cricket legend Brett Lee as their brand ambassador in 2020. 

As per his role as Sportsbet.io brand ambassador, the former Aussie fast bowler leads a series of dedicated cricket promotions, giving users a chance to ‘Bet with Brett’. The promotions also include special cricket quizzes, the Brett Lee “Awesome Foursome” and a dedicated casino cashback. Furthermore, Lee also provides in-depth analysis from the world of cricket.

I’m Super excited to partner up with @Sportsbetio_IN!
To give you a Fun. Fast. Fair. experience - I agreed with #Sportsbetio to kick this partnership off by giving away a cricket ball signed by me.

To win just follow @Sportsbetio_IN & tag 2 friends in this post.
Good luck pic.twitter.com/AKgunSU5Yg

— Brett Lee (@BrettLee_58) July 7, 2020

Having made his international debut against India in a Test match in 1999, Lee took 310 wickets in 76 Tests and claimed 380 scalps in 221 ODIs. He also bagged 28 wickets in 25 T20Is.

Brendon McCullum and Mostbet

One of India’s leading betting sites Mostbet signed former New Zealand cricket team captain Brendon McCullum as their brand ambassador. 

Established in 2009, Mostbet allows gamblers from across the globe to bet on various sporting events, including cricket. It also provides betting on online casinos that feature over 1300 slot games.

In his career which spanned between 2004 and 2016, McCullum amassed 6453 runs in 101 Tests and 6083 runs in 260 ODIs. He also registered 2140 runs in 71 T20Is.

Dwayne Bravo and 1xBet

Cyprus-based online gambling firm 1xBet and West Indies cricketer Dwayne Bravo entered into a strategic partnership by making him its first ambassador in India.

Under the agreement, Bravo and the betting company will collaborate on a series of unique promotions and offers for their fans. Furthermore, the Caribbean all-rounder will appear in various advertising campaigns for 1xBet.

Bravo is regarded as one of the best all-rounders in world cricket, scoring more than 6000 runs and picking over 300 international wickets for the West Indies cricket team. 

Virender Sehwag and ComeOn

India-based online betting platform ComeOn roped in former India opening batsman Virender Sehwag as their global brand ambassador. The online gaming platform covers worldwide cricket betting and provides betting tips and predictions. ComeOn is available as an Indian T20 League betting app and website. 

Between 1999 and 2013, Sehwag scored more than 17000 runs in international cricket and was a vital cog in the Indian cricket team set-up.

Shane Warne and DafaBet

Legendary Australia cricketer Shane Warne signed a five-year contract with Dafabet as the company’s sports representative and brand ambassador in 2019.

Warne’s role requires him to promote the company’s expertise in the cricket betting market and also offer in-depth analysis regarding anything related to the sport. 

Presently, Dafabet caters several betting markets and offers odds across various sports including cricket and football.

Considered one of the greatest leg-spinners of all time, Warne has bagged 1001 international wickets in 339 matches.

Kevin Pietersen and Betway

Leading online bookmaker Betway roped in former England captain Kevin Pietersen as their global cricket ambassador in 2019.

Under the agreement, Pietersen offers cricket insights on various events taking place across the world. 

The former middle-order batter pens his thoughts on all things cricket in the betting company’s online sports blog named Betway Insider. It features betting tips, predictions and exclusive columns.

Pietersen amassed 8181 runs in 104 Tests while also scoring 4440 runs in 136 ODIs. In the shortest format, the England batter aggregated 1176 runs in 37 T20Is.

Daren Sammy and FUN88

In July 2021, leading sports betting company FUN88 announced its partnership with two time T20 World Cup winning captain, Daren Sammy. As part of the association, Sammy was the face of FUN88’s branding and marketing campaign called #LagiShart.

Speaking about the partnership, Sammy explained why FUN88 was the brand he chose. “My relationship with the number 88, which has been my jersey number too, spans over two decades and with FUN88 I see a synergy to make it the go-to destination for sports enthusiasts in India,” Sammy said. 

“Having followed FUN88 for a while, I have seen how the platform has evolved over the years. It has celebrated sports and cricket and has brought fans together since its inception. I am excited about this association with the team at FUN88 and deeply thankful for being given the opportunity to be its ambassador and face,” the former T20 World Cup-winning captain added.

FUN88, which is an official partner of the Caribbean Premier League, was launched in India back in August 2020. In such a short time, the company has established a decent fanbase within the country by offering ‘one of the broadest portfolios of markets and odds across a variety of sports and leagues’.

Chris Gayle and 10CRIC

“Betting has its new boss,” stated 10CRIC upon announcing West Indies icon Chris Gayle as their brand ambassador for a tenure of two years in March 2021. With sports betting gathering steam, roping in Chris Gayle was a massive coup given his popularity in the Indian subcontinent and around the world.

Known as the Universal Boss, Gayle has entertained the Indian audience through his antics in the Indian T20 League and through his association, 10CRIC focused on creating intriguing content for sports fans and driving engagement through that.

Commenting on becoming the face of the brand, Gayle said, "I am very happy to be representing 10CRIC and looking forward to many exciting projects during our collaboration over the next 2 years, and hopefully beyond that. I am impressed with how much they care about the cricket fans and with the way they have built such an incredible product that provides so much fun and entertainment"

Brian Lara and W88

Former West Indies captain Brian Lara was roped in as the face of a leading betting company, W88 in May 2021. W88, who were the shirt sponsor of Premier League side Aston Villa during the 2019/20 football season, signed a multi-year partnership with Lara to grow their presence within the cricketing community.

“I am pleased to be working with W88, supporting them across their exciting growth plans in the world of cricket. W88 is an ambitious and respected brand within the gaming industry, and I am looking forward to helping build their market presence in the sport,” said Lara upon the announcement.

pic.twitter.com/HLadbdSeyo

— Brian Lara (@BrianLara) May 21, 2021

W88 are now the primary sponsor of the Crystal Palace team in the English Premier League and hold the legal license from PACGOR – Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation. The company is known for its lucrative welcomes bonuses that can stretch up to INR 15,000 on Sportsbook and online casinos.

Dale Steyn and Parimatch

In May 2021, global sports betting brand Parimatch announced former South African pacer Dale Steyn as their first cricket ambassador. The main idea behind the 18-month deal was to increase the brand awareness among fans of the game in Africa and the United Kingdom.

“I am very excited to partner with a renowned global brand like Parimatch as global brand ambassador. Cricket is a sport where everyone has differing predictions and there’s no better way to enjoy the sport than with Parimatch,” said Steyn of his new partnership.

Parimatch has been an active player in the sporting world, also tying up its associations with the likes of MMA superstar Conor McGregor, legendary boxer Mike Tyson, UFC fighters Alexey Oleynik, Petr Yan, and the Shevchenko sisters. Partnering with Steyn is their first step in the world of cricket and it certainly won’t be the last.

Sunil Narine and FairPlay Club

In July 2021, Sunil Narine became another player from the West Indies to become the face of a leading sports betting company. The star bowling all-rounder came in partnership with one of India’s trusted betting exchange platforms, FairPlay Club. 

Narine became the face of FairPlay Club 2.0 which was launched with a brand new identity but with a similar motto of ‘reassurance of trust and security in the minds of potential and existing FairPlay club members’.

“Sunil Narine brings with him an air of reliance and reinforces the concept of fairness with his sportsman spirit and experience that he’s had in the gentleman’s game,” read an official statement from FairPlay Club.

Online Casino games are making steady progress in the Indian market. The websites that offer online casino games offer luring bonuses and a wide variety of games allow users to place easy bets right from the living room.

While the live experience of traditional casinos is missing, online casinos actually save a lot of operational costs both for the company as well as for the user. For example, one does not need to travel to a certain casino which comes at a cost of booking a hotel. For online casinos, all you need is a computer and an active internet connection.

But what sets them apart? Let’s take a look at some top online casino sites of 2022.

22 Bet Casino

22 Bet Casino is available in 50 different languages, ranging from English, Hindi, German and so on. Launched in 2018, 22 Bet Casino is licensed under Curacao eGaming and also from the UK Gambling Commission.

Furthermore, there are some interesting welcome bonuses in the offering. For example, those looking for live casinos get a 100% deposit match-up to INR 25,000. This coupled with regular free spins is like icing on the cake.

As far as variety is concerned, 22 Bet Casino has it all which includes Table Games like Casino poker, red dog, casino war and Live Dealer games like blackjack, roulette, and baccarat.

22 Bet Casino also supports almost every local payment option available, ranging right from UPI transactions to direct bank transfers.

The only downside of this platform is its user interface, which requires some getting used to for new users. Additionally, the payout time can also stretch over 48 hours.

Genesis Casino

Genesis Casino is a dedicated online casino platform only for Indian users. It is evident by the fact that the prices are listed in Indian rupees and references of Indian holidays are also mentioned. Now, catering to just a single geographic market may very well be a downside, but the casino has a lot to offer, garnering it a good reputation.

Genesis Casino offers some of the classic casino games and their gaming platform is subtle, to say the least. Additionally, there is a 100% welcome bonus for new users that goes up to INR 30,000. On top of that, they also get 20 free spins.

What makes Genesis Casino unique is its VIP section which is available for high rollers with increased rewards and great bonus offers. This includes gifts, tailored online casino payments and bonus offers from a dedicated account manager.

NetBet Casino

Licensed under Autoridade de Jogos de Malta MGA, NetBet Casino is regarded as one of the best online casino platforms which offer a straightforward 100% deposit bonus of up to INR 16,000 plus 10 free spins on Vegas games.

NetBet Casino has a wide variety of games ranging from Monopoly to Andar Bahar and all these games are created by some of the top developers like NetEnt, Microgaming, iSoftBet, IGT and NextGen Gaming. As a result, the platform is able to offer more than 250 slots, nearly 30 card games including live dealer options, almost 20 different types of roulette and over 10 video poker versions.

NetBet Casino is also compatible with tablets and smartphones with a guaranteed secured connection. In all, it is easy to see why NetBet casino has developed a respectable reputation in the industry.

Betway

Betway has been a big player in the online casino industry. Since 2006, Betway has established a base of loyal customers and has now built a library of over 400 online casino games. Like several other portals, Betway offers a 100% welcome bonus and its live dealers games are provided by Evolution Gaming, a top developer of live online casino software.

Betway’s variety of games ranges right from card games like blackjack, roulette, baccarat and poker to casual games like Monopoly and Dream Catcher. This means that it is easier for them to capture a bigger market. They have a live croupier to interact with throughout. 

As far as quality is concerned, the broadcast is done in high-definition and the games can be played from several angles. It is safe to say that Betway knows what the audience wants.

Dafabet

Like Betway, Dafabet has had a long-standing presence in the online casino market. Based in the Philippines, Dafabet has captured a large part of Asia by not only offering great welcome bonuses but by exhibiting a best in class user interface.

Dafabet’s games are powered by Playtech and there are more than 400 games to choose from. Not only that, the platform is equally adaptive on PCs, Macs, smartphones and even tablets. Those operating on smartphones or tablets have two options. The first being is to download the Dafabet app, supported on both Android and iOs. The second is to log in through m.dafabet.com which will require no download.

However, the selection of games will be slightly limited on the phone when compared to the availability of PC.

Parimatch

Licensed by Curacao, Parimatch is owned by Suncast Future N.V and the games available on the site are provided by the best software providers in the business. Parimatch offers excellent bonuses to the first-timers as they can get upto INR 15,000 after their first deposit.

On top of that, the platform offers different types of modes for transactions which ranges from Bitcoin Cash to bank wire transfer. As is with the deposit, the withdrawal is equally convenient as one can withdraw money at any time of day. This has been made possible as the casino uses e-wallets, bank accounts, and cards to make withdrawals.

Furthermore, Parimatch also operates on various currencies which include the US dollar, euro, Turkish lira, Bitcoin, Indian rupee, Russian ruble and Ukrainian hryvnia. And it is quite easy to change it as well.

Good customer support is like the cherry on the cake which makes Parimatch a go-to site for many online casino players.

1xBet

Founded in 2007, 1xBet has become one of the most talked-about platforms for betting and online casinos. Like other players in the market, 1xBet has a big library when it comes to casino games which involve games like roulette, blackjack, baccarat and poker.

What makes 1xBet stand out from the rest is the fact that it has a generous welcome package that is not only limited to the first deposit but is actually spread across the first four deposits. Furthermore, the platform also offers a loyalty program that gives the user a generous cashback. Not to forget its availability across the mobile apps for Android and iOS devices.

The casino games on 1xBet have been translated into 40 different languages so far and this has made it easier for the users to understand the terms and conditions before placing any kind of bet. Their customer support is available 24x7 but they don’t always have native language support. Hence, the default language is English.

Featured photo: Unsplash / Adi Coco

Celebrity endorsement has gathered rapid pace in the growing digital market. With betting and online gaming making steady strides, casino brands have looked to the traditional ways to establish a stronghold in the Indian subcontinent. 

The one old-fashioned approach in that regard has been the onboarding of Bollywood stars and some major players have already looked down the route. In fact, Bollybet recently launched a Bollywood-themed casino which was widely accepted by the users for its interesting interface.

Over the years, many Bollywood stars including Arjun Rampal, Rannvijay Singh and Nawazuddin Siddiqui have joined hands with the online casino companies and the results have been quite rewarding. 

With that being said, here we take a look at Bollywood actresses who have endorsed casino brands.

Sunny Leone with JeetWin

Apart from being a famed name in Bollywood, actress Sunny Leone serves as the brand ambassador of online casino JeetWin. The association started in 2019 as a part of which, the Canada-born actress did some promotions on her social media handles. 

“JeetWin has been nothing more than a delight,” she said during the promotional event. “It’s a brilliant association with JeetWin. Every person I encountered in this venture was a wonderful experience.”

Recently, she was seen promoting a scratch card game based on a food theme that is available on JeetWin.

Sunny Leone has more than 49 million followers on Instagram which gives JeetWin big leverage as far as their reach is concerned. Given the variety of games they have and the simple transaction methods, Jeetwin Casino, licensed under Curacao Gaming Commission, has now become a popular name among the Indian audience.

Nargis Fakhri with Betway

In April 2021, Betway launched a live version of the game, Andar Bahar, in association with Bollywood actress Nargis Fakhri. Since then, the 42-year-old model has helped Betway Live Casino in getting a bigger reach through her wide social media presence. The partnership helps Betway in promoting their live dealer games on the online casino website while having the glitz and glamour on the show.

Amy Jackson with Rummy Passion

In February 2018, Rummy Passion roped in Amy Jackson as their brand ambassador as she resonated the ‘ethos of the vibrant site with her vivacious personality’.

Online rummy has seen massive growth in the online community in a very short period of time. As mentioned by the platform itself, ‘Amy herself is an avid player who likes to unwind at the tables after hectic shoots by indulging in online rummy gameplay at this site’. 

Like the others in the list, Amy engages in various promotional activities both physically and through her social media channels which helps an already established Rummy Passion reach a wider audience.

Rummy Passion is one of India’s fastest-growing rummy portals and the casino games on this platform are RNG certified and offer an excellent customer support service in local languages like Hindi, Bengali, Telugu and Tamil.

Anita Hassanandani with Poker Raj

Anita Hassanandani gained wider popularity from movies like Just Married, Maharaja, and Hero. Before that though, she was already a famous name among Indian households having appeared in the daily soap, Kavyanjali.

In November 2018, Viaan Industries, promoted by Raj Kundra and Shilpa Shetty announced the launch of Poker Raj while signing Anita Hassanandani as their brand ambassador. The move came as no surprise as Anita had gained massive popularity by the time.

“Card games always intrigued me,” Anita told PokerGuru in an interview. “I played a lot of ‘Teen Patti’ and ‘Rummy’ before, while poker was fairly new to me.

“Now I play poker online as well. The great thing is that you can play it on the go or wherever you are. I love playing online tournaments as well,” she added.

Elli Avram with Parimatch

It was during the festive season of Diwali this year that Parimatch got in association with Bollywood actress Elli Avram. During the official announcement, Dmitry Belianin, Marketing Director at PMI said, “We are delighted to be working with Swedish Bollywood actor Elli Avram as a brand ambassador for Parimatch. Not only is she talented, but she is also passionate about her work and her ambitious spirit resonates with our brand vision. With this association, we strive to reach new heights of success and we hope that this association will introduce us to a broader audience of sports fans.”

As part of the company, the actress appeared in a short video which aimed 'to showcase the life of a celebrity and how it aligns with Parimatch’s vision as a brand and what Alli aims to bring to her fans'.

Featured photo: AFP / Noah Seelam

Before dwelling into what the top betting exchange sites are, it is important to understand what these revolutionary new platforms mean. Unlike traditional betting where bookmakers play a big role, betting exchange sites involve a minimum of two parties and these two bettors bet against each other while offering and requesting odds.

The elimination of the middlemen, i.e., the bookmakers have by and large had a positive impact on the betting community, allowing betting exchange to build up a head of steam and have substantial momentum behind them in a fairly short period.

While the reason behind this is multifaceted, the fact that betting exchanges offer much better odds since it is a free market and the odds are controlled by the punters are a couple of significant points to make note of.

Betting exchanges are also fairly transparent when compared to bookmakers and only takes a small commission on all winnings. With that said, here we have a look at the top betting exchange sites at present, which are certain to grow even more exponentially in 2022.

Betadda

Betadda is relatively new to the betting market and is Curacao licensed which means it’s safe for bettors and is a legit new-age betting platform. This platform offers odds as good as any other website and one of its numerous positives is that it allows users to place bets on a variety of sports, which includes your traditional sports like tennis, basketball, cricket as well as some virtual sports.

Furthermore, Betadda offers as many as three features for bettors to choose from and earn a profit. They are as follows:

• In-play bets: As the name implies, these are the kind of bets where one can punt on the team or player while the game is ongoing.
• Direct bets: A direct bet is a bet where you can wager on the team or player that will win or lose the match.
• Future bets: Future bets are those where users punt on a specific tournament or a player for a match that will happen later in the future. This means you do not have to place your bets while the match is ongoing.

FairPlay

Established in 2020, FairPlay is India’s first and arguably the most trusted betting platform. The one good thing about this platform is that it offers a 100 per cent bonus on your first deposit. The USP of this platform is that it offers betting on live casinos which are played by live users and not bots. There is also a huge selection of sports and games that are on offer here.

FairPlay brand themselves as India’s most secure gambling site. If any kind of suspicious behaviour is noticed, the account is immediately terminated. Furthermore, there are quick deposits and withdrawals here as well, meaning impatient bettors need not wait too long to enjoy their winnings. The days when one had to wait for verification by the bookmakers are now a thing of the past in front of the new revolutionary betting exchange sites. At FairPlay, users are able to make simple transactions without any lengthy verification procedures altogether.

Lastly, what makes this platform unique is that it offers live streaming of ongoing games and customer support at the same time. This allows users to keep track of everything.

1xBet

One of the oldest players in the betting market that founded in 2007 and the global partners of FC Barcelona, 1xBet is a unique platform in its own way. Here, apart from the traditional sports, users have the option of placing bets on TV games as well as video games.

1xBet offers a large variety of options including cash out. Here, the users have the option of cashing out before the end of a sporting event on which they have placed a bet on. This means you can cash out before the end of the game when your bet is the correct one instead of waiting till the game is over where the outcome can change. While there are more winnings for seeing the bet out to the distance, cashing in on something is better than missing out on everything should a game’s result change in the dying moments as is frequently the case with football.

There are, of course, some terms and conditions that apply to all cash out which players must be aware of before gambling. Meanwhile, another interesting feature on 1xBet is what they call self-exclusion. This means if a user tends to take a break from gambling, 1xBet will deactivate the account for a minimum period of six months. The account will not be activated for any reason during that time. 1xBet is the perfect place for those who are willing to take a risk as they offer higher odds on the sports exchange.

BetWinner

Like a few betting exchange sites, BetWinner offers a 100 per cent bonus on the first deposit upto 8000 INR. Unlike other sites though, this platform allows users to interact with each other to ‘benefit from their professional experience’, thereby enabling new users to be guided by veteran punters who have been around the block for sometime

Established in 2008, on BetWinner, you can play virtual sports, casino games, tv games, bingo, lottery, and much more. In fact, it will take you several weeks to run out of games on this platform. Furthermore, BetWinner also allows users to create their own set of odds if someone is willing to match that. The platform also has a live betting section where you can place in-play bets on sports like football, ice hockey, tennis, darts, cricket, volleyball, table tennis, and more.

MegaPari

Established in 2019, MegaPari is a new entrant in the betting industry. Since it is a recent entry into the sports betting market, the platform is able to provide all the necessary add-ons expected of betting exchange sites these days, including live and in-play betting. The odds offered here are highly competitive and users are always spoiled for choice while of MegaPari in terms of the variety of games that they can choose from.

MegaPari has acquired a large audience over a span of two years and it comes as no surprise that it is one of the safest platforms for sports betting exchange given that they do have a Curacao license, which ensures that such platforms cannot partake in any dubious activity. They are set to grow even more in the near future and are gradually transforming into one of the go-to betting sites for bettors both old and new.