There is no doubt that Indian sport is synonymous with Cricket which is the most popular and famous sport in the country, watched and played by millions of people.
Having produced some of the world’s greatest players and won multiple tournaments, cricket plays a significant role in the life of Indians.
But, Football is now in second place in the country when it comes to sports popularity. In the past few years, India has evolved from a single sport nation to a multi-sport country.
In 2013, the Indian Super League was formed in order to promote Football and local talent in the country. Just four years later India hosted the FIFA U-17 World Cup.
With the rising popularity of Football, more and more Indians have also begun to indulge in sports betting.
But how popular is betting nowadays and is it legal?
What are the most popular Football leagues that Indians view and bet on?
In this article, you are going to find answers to these questions along with everything you need to know about Football betting in India.
Is it Legal to Gamble in India?
There are no clear laws related to online gambling or sports betting in most states in India, and all major online casinos and betting sites are operated from outside India. So if you can access the bookmaker’s website from your location, you can play on it and try your luck on winning big!
Online poker, online rummy, and fantasy sports are licensed and operated by Indian-based gaming operators but remember these are games of skill.
So the key facts are:
- the Indian Gambling laws do not cover the Online sports betting industry, and
- companies that offer sports betting and online casino games have their staff and offices located outside of India, in countries where betting is a legal activity (e.g. Europe).
Due to the above, it is okay to play on the websites of these offshore bookmakers, which are now customizing their offerings for Indians, in terms of local currency, payment methods, and game preferences. The gaming and betting market in India has grown leaps and bounds in the past few years and will continue to do so.
How Popular is Football Betting in India?
Statistics show that as many as 40% of Indians visit online betting sites specifically to bet on Cricket and Football, mostly via their mobile phone.
This makes Football one of the most popular sports to wager on in India, just after Cricket.
Indians love to wager on sports online so it should come as no surprise that some of the European sports betting sites now offer India’s nationally televised I-League and ISL as part of their Football betting lineups, along with other prestigious leagues and tournaments from around the world.
So no matter whether you’re interested in wagering on domestic, regional, or global Football competitions, we have identified the top football betting sites for you already.
What are the Most Popular Football Leagues in India?
The international appeal for Football, especially Europe’s biggest leagues like the English Premier League and the American Major League Soccer definitely extends to India as well.
The best players in the world like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are adored in India, as are most teams in top-tier Football. Keep reading to find out which are the most popular European Football leagues as viewed by Indians online and on TV.
- In the first place, we have the English Premier League with 26%. It is no surprise that the top English Football league also dominates the minds of Indian Football fans. Manchester United is the most popular club, with 19% of Indians nominating it as their favourite team.
- Spanish La Liga secures second place with 21%. Barcelona and Real Madrid are far ahead of the other Spanish clubs in terms of popularity.
- Italian Serie A is in third place with 11%, the popularity somewhat evenly spread among the major Italian teams.
- German Bundesliga is next with 6%. Long-time champions Bayern Munich are by far the most supported club even though German Football is not that popular in the country.
When it comes to views, the two major leagues in Indian Football rival the popularity of European leagues on a more local level:
- The Indian Super League (ISL) has been growing rapidly in popularity. On becoming the top-tier league in the country, the ISL has given mainstream attention to Football bringing in large investments and higher quality players from around the world.
- I-league – Second in terms of popularity and quality of Football. India’s own Sunil Chhetri came from this league and later became the second Indian Footballer to be transferred abroad when he signed for the Kansas City Wizards in 2010.
Nowadays, the sportsbook of Indian bettors consists of pretty much any top-tier league in Europe as well as the local Football leagues.
Conclusion
Football has been growing dramatically in popularity over the past years and so has the betting industry. Every day, millions of Indians are visiting online football betting websites in order to place some bets on top-tier Football.
We hope this article has helped you understand how popular Football is to Indians. It will continue to grow in popularity, and we should soon expect some great talent coming from India.
The future is ahead. Are you ready to conquer the game of Football online?
