Jurisdictions, legality, and what you need to know
A standing reference for the legality of fantasy sports in major Indian states. Editorial position: fantasy sports are skill-based in most Indian jurisdictions; some states have restricted play-for-cash formats.
Fantasy sports legality across Indian states
Open states
Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Delhi, Gujarat, West Bengal, Rajasthan, Kerala, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and most other states - fantasy contests remain legal as games of skill.
Restricted formats
Andhra Pradesh and Telangana have specific add-on restrictions on certain prize-pool formats. Check the platform's state filter before depositing.
Closed states
States where paid fantasy contests are currently restricted by local law. The desk publishes a current list; readers are responsible for complying with local rules.
Outside India
Outside India, fantasy contests are governed by the laws of the reader's country. The desk publishes a country list for non-Indian users.
The legal context, briefly
Indian fantasy sports are widely treated as games of skill under the Public Gambling Act, 1867, with multiple High Court rulings confirming the position for formats that depend on player selection and contest strategy. The desk's reading is that this position continues to hold for the formats our partner platforms operate, with state-by-state variation.
This is not legal advice. If you are in a restricted jurisdiction, check the local rules before participating. The Customer Care team can answer questions about state filters on a specific platform.