There are lot of discussion in India whether Stake.com is legal or illegal. On one hand, the site operates globally via a licensing from the Curaçao Gaming Authority (license number OGL/2024/1451/0918). Indian law has long viewed betting and gambling differently in different states and for different types of activities (chance vs. skill).
What’s The Law?
India’s colonial-era regulations, such the Public gaming Act of 1867, which mostly deal with land-based gaming, used to be in charge of betting and gambling. Stake and other online betting sites are in a regulatory gray area. Some people said that a lot of Indians could utilize offshore sites like Stake since Indian legislation didn’t clearly say that all offshore betting was illegal.
But things changed a lot starting in late 2025. The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025 (approved in August 2025 and went into effect in October 2025) makes it illegal to play “online games of chance” where you bet real money and sets up rules for how online games should be run. Some reports say that this Act makes it illegal for sites like Stake, which let people gamble real money on chance, to operate in India.
What This Means for Stake
Stake has an offshore license, but because of the new rule, Indians who place real-money bets on the platform may be breaking the law. The new national regulation seems to clear up any confusion and make things more consistent, rather than just relying on state-by-state bans. Because of this, some reports say that Stake is now illegal throughout all of India. Still, some sources say that Stake is “available” to Indian players because they can access offshore platforms and the ban hasn’t been completely enforced in every case.
Important Things to Consider:
- License status: A foreign regulator (Curaçao) has given Stake a license. That doesn’t mean it’s legal in India right now.
- State vs. federal regulation: Some states used to have clear bans, while others did not. The federal Act now tries to make regulation the same in all states.
- Type of game: In Indian Law, the difference between a “game of skill” & a “game of chance” is very important (games of chance is usually against the law). Due to this small variation, courts treat these two different actions in a different way.
- Enforcement: Even if there are laws, effective enforcement against offshore sites may not happen right away. However, users are still at risk.
- Financial and tax effects: Even if you use a platform, your gains may be subject to income tax or other regulatory scrutiny.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, Stake.com was able to operate in India through offshore access, and some people thought it was easy to get to. However, the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act of 2025 has made it much more dangerous for Indian users to do so. Just because the platform is legal in other countries doesn’t mean it’s legal in India. Playing real-money games of chance on such a site may now be against the law in India. Indian users should either stay away from such types of sites or only choose gaming services that are strictly controlled and follow the rules. When it comes to the law it’s wise to go to a expert lawyer to find out how much risk you face in your state and situation.