Prediction Markets in India [2026]

India has a complex regulatory landscape for prediction markets shaped by the country's broader gambling and betting regulation framework. India does not have a unified federal prediction market regulator. Online gambling and betting fall under state-level regulation under the Public Gambling Act of 1867 and various state-specific laws. Some Indian states have liberalised online gambling (Sikkim, Nagaland) while others maintain restrictive frameworks.

Indian users can access international decentralised prediction platforms in practice. Polymarket and other decentralised platforms operate accessibly for Indian users, though specific tax and reporting obligations apply to crypto activity under Indian crypto tax rules introduced in 2022. Indian users with crypto holdings can fund Polymarket positions using USDC bridged to the Polygon network.

Daily fantasy sports operate legally in India under specific state-level licensing. Dream11, MPL, and other Indian DFS operators have grown rapidly with regulatory recognition in most major Indian states. These platforms offer pick'em-style fantasy products that share some structural similarities with international prediction markets, though they are not directly equivalent products.

For broader background on prediction market mechanics see our crypto prediction markets guide which covers the decentralised platforms most relevant for Indian users.

Crypto-based prediction markets are the most relevant category for Indian users wanting access to international prediction markets beyond Indian-licensed daily fantasy products.

Polymarket on Polygon is the leading option globally and operates accessibly for Indian users. Indian users typically acquire USDC on a major international crypto exchange (Binance, Coinbase, Kraken) or Indian-licensed exchange (CoinDCX, WazirX, ZebPay) and bridge or transfer to the Polygon network. Polymarket then accepts USDC for direct trading on prediction markets.

Coinbase Predictions and Crypto.com Predictions operate based on the parent exchanges' Indian regulatory positions. Crypto.com has stronger India presence than Coinbase. Both platforms offer crypto-native event markets that work for Indian crypto users wanting to avoid wallet management.

Indian crypto tax rules introduced in 2022 require Indian residents to report crypto holdings and pay 30% tax on crypto gains. Indian prediction market users active on crypto-funded platforms should consult tax professionals about specific reporting obligations on prediction market winnings funded through crypto. The tax treatment is more complex than in many other jurisdictions.

For deeper coverage of crypto prediction markets including platform rankings see our best crypto prediction markets guide.

Cricket is by far the dominant Indian prediction market use case. India is the world's largest cricket market by audience and engagement. The Indian Premier League (IPL), ICC Cricket World Cup, India national team Test series, and Twenty20 Internationals all generate massive Indian prediction interest.

Polymarket lists cricket markets including IPL outright winner markets, Cricket World Cup outright markets, and individual major series markets. Coverage is strong on flagship events like the IPL Final and Cricket World Cup with significant Indian user participation. Player prop coverage is more limited than the deep DFS-style coverage that Indian-licensed daily fantasy operators provide.

Indian-licensed daily fantasy platforms (Dream11, MPL, MyTeam11) have built dominant local market positions for cricket DFS rather than traditional prediction markets. These platforms offer team-selection fantasy products with cash payouts under Indian skill-game licensing frameworks. The product format differs from prediction markets but serves overlapping Indian user demand for cricket-related real-money play.

For Indian users wanting peer-to-peer cricket prediction markets at international liquidity rather than Indian DFS team selection, Polymarket and other international decentralised platforms remain the primary option. The combination of Indian DFS for fantasy team building plus Polymarket for cricket outright markets covers most Indian cricket prediction use cases.

For most Indian prediction market users, the right primary platform depends on whether you want pure prediction markets or fantasy-style team selection products.

For prediction markets specifically: Polymarket is the leading option with the deepest liquidity globally and meaningful coverage of cricket events relevant to Indian users. Trading requires USDC on the Polygon blockchain via a Web3 wallet, with one-time setup of 15-30 minutes. Indian users should be aware of Indian crypto tax obligations on related activity.

For crypto-native Indian users wanting easier on-ramps: Crypto.com Predictions has stronger India presence than Coinbase Predictions. Both operate inside the parent exchange apps and remove wallet management. Coverage focuses on crypto-native event markets but includes some general events.

For Indian cricket fantasy specifically: Dream11, MPL, and MyTeam11 dominate the Indian DFS market with cricket as the leading category. These are not prediction markets but they serve overlapping Indian user demand for real-money cricket play.

For Indian sports prediction beyond cricket: Polymarket and exchange-integrated platforms cover football (international competitions including UEFA Champions League and World Cup), tennis, and other major sports relevant to Indian users. See our sports prediction markets hub for broader sports coverage.