Is It Legal?: state-wise eligibility for paid fantasy cricket in India — plus the difference between skill and chance.
Real-money fantasy cricket is a game of skill and is permitted in 28 Indian states. It is restricted in Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Odisha, Telangana, Sikkim, Nagaland and Tamil Nadu (except Tamil Nadu Permitted Areas). Always re-check your state's current rules before depositing.
The short answer
Game of skill — permitted in most of India.
The Supreme Court of India has repeatedly held that fantasy sports — including fantasy cricket — are games of skill, not games of chance, and are therefore permitted under Indian law. This position is supported by the Public Gambling Act, 1867 and a series of High Court rulings. State-specific restrictions still apply.
State-wise eligibility
Restricted vs. permitted states.
28 Indian states and union territories
Including Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu Permitted Areas, Delhi NCR, Gujarat, West Bengal, Telangana (TBD state rules subject to legal review), and most of north and east India.
Andhra Pradesh · Assam · Odisha · Telangana · Sikkim · Nagaland · Tamil Nadu (except Permitted Areas)
Real-money contests are restricted in the listed states. Always verify your district's current rules via your state government's official portal before you deposit.
Skill vs. chance — what the courts have said
A two-line summary.
Indian courts have repeatedly ruled that fantasy sports outcomes depend primarily on the user's knowledge of the sport, statistical reasoning and game-sense — not on chance. This distinguishes paid fantasy cricket from lotteries or wagering on horse races, which remain game-of-chance in most jurisdictions.