The 4rabet app is the mobile version of 4rabet, an online sports betting and casino brand that has advertised heavily to cricket fans in India and Bangladesh. This page used to tell readers how to download the app and claim a bonus. We have replaced it with a neutral explainer on who runs the brand, what its licences do and do not cover, why installing an APK file from a website is risky, and what the law now says. We do not explain how to download, register or deposit, and there are no links to any gambling site.
This article is general information, not legal or financial advice. Gambling law depends on where you live, so check your own local rules.
Table of Contents
Quick Facts
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| What it is | Online sportsbook and casino brand with a mobile app |
| Curacao operator listed | New Entertainment Development N.V. |
| Curacao licence status | Active but provisional, under final assessment |
| Second licence listed | Anjouan Gaming Authority, issued June 2026 |
| Main markets targeted | India and Bangladesh |
| Status in India | Online money games banned since 1 May 2026 |
| On Google Play in India | No, real money gambling apps are not allowed there |
What the 4rabet App Is
4rabet offers betting on cricket, football, tennis, kabaddi and esports, along with slot machines and live dealer casino tables. Its app is a smaller version of the website, with the same account, the same wallet and the same games. The brand markets itself in Hindi, Bengali and English and uses cricket heavily in its adverts.
The old version of this page described the app as a place to “browse articles”, “make connections” and post to Facebook. That was simply wrong. The 4rabet app is a gambling product. Its only purpose is to let people place bets with real money.
Who Runs 4rabet and What Its Licences Mean
Public licence registers list 4rabet.com in two places. The Curacao Gaming Authority register lists it under a company called New Entertainment Development N.V., on licence OGL/2024/748/0203. That licence is shown as active, but provisional, because the authority has not finished its final assessment. A second register, run by the Anjouan Gaming Authority in the Comoros, lists the domain under a company named 3 102 958036 SRL, with a licence issued on 30 June 2026 that runs to 29 June 2027.
The same checks show that 4rabet.com does not appear on the registers of the UK Gambling Commission, the Malta Gaming Authority or the regulator in Ontario, Canada. Those are the regulators most often seen as strict.
The key point is that a licence only counts in the place that issued it and for the markets it allows. A Curacao or Anjouan licence does not give an operator permission to take bets from people in India, the UK, the US or Australia. If a dispute arises, a player in a country where the site has no local licence has little practical protection. Licence details can also change, so anyone researching a brand should check the regulator’s own register rather than a logo on a website.
Why Installing an APK File Is Risky
An APK is the file format used to install apps on Android phones. Most people get apps from the Google Play Store, which checks apps before listing them. Google Play only allows real money gambling apps in a list of approved countries, and India is not one of them. A short pilot that let some rummy and fantasy sports apps appear in India has ended. That is why betting brands ask Indian users to download an APK file from their website instead.
Installing apps from outside an official store means turning off a safety setting on the phone. The risks include:
- Fake copies. Criminals publish look alike APK files that carry malware, steal banking passwords or read text messages, including one time passwords.
- No review. The app has not been checked by an app store, so its permissions and data handling are unknown.
- No easy updates. Security fixes depend on the user downloading new files from the website.
- Hard to remove fully. Some malicious apps hide their icon or ask for device administrator rights.
Google has also started requiring that apps installed on certified Android phones come from verified developers. The rule is already in force in Brazil, Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand, and Google plans to apply it worldwide in 2027. Users can still install unverified apps through an advanced process, but the extra steps are there to slow people down and protect them.
The Law in India Since May 2026
India passed the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act in August 2025. It received presidential assent on 22 August 2025, and the law came into force on 1 May 2026. The Act bans all online money games, whether they rely on skill or chance. That covers sports betting apps such as 4rabet and online casinos. It also bans advertising them and bars banks and payment apps from processing money for them.
A challenge to the law is before the Supreme Court. As of October 2026 there is no ruling, so the ban stands.
Police have also linked offshore betting apps to other crimes. In October 2025, Hyderabad’s police commissioner said that several offshore betting apps, and he named 4RABET among them, were funding movie piracy websites through adverts and payments. He also said such apps collect users’ personal information, which is later misused in cyber frauds. These were statements made by police at a press conference, not findings of a court.
The Situation in Bangladesh
The old post was aimed at readers in Bangladesh. Bangladesh does not license online betting. Its main gambling law is the Public Gambling Act of 1867, a colonial era law, and offshore sites that take bets in Bangladeshi taka operate without any local permission. Players there have no local regulator to turn to if a site refuses to pay.
Why Bonuses Are Not Free Money
The old post promoted a welcome bonus. Bonuses at betting sites usually come with wagering requirements, which means the bonus must be staked many times before anything can be withdrawn. Minimum odds, time limits and maximum bet rules often make the bonus hard to turn into cash. Every bet also carries a margin for the bookmaker, built into the odds, so over time the bettor is expected to lose.
Warning Signs to Watch For
- You are asked to install an app file from a website or a chat link rather than an official store.
- The site keeps changing its address or sends you to a “mirror” link.
- Deposits go to personal bank accounts, payment links or crypto wallets.
- A withdrawal is held until you pay a “tax”, “fee” or “verification charge”.
- An influencer, a piracy site or a chat group pushes a promo code and promises easy profit.
If You Already Installed an APK
- Uninstall the app and turn the “install unknown apps” setting off again.
- Run Google Play Protect or another trusted security scan.
- Change your banking and email passwords from a different, clean device.
- Watch your bank statements and tell your bank about any payment you did not make.
- In India, report fraud on the cybercrime helpline, 1930, or at the national cybercrime portal.
Gambling Harm and Where to Get Help
Gambling can become hard to control. Signs include chasing losses, borrowing to bet, hiding it from family and feeling restless when you try to stop. Help is free and confidential:
- United Kingdom: GamCare, 0808 8020 133.
- United States: 1 800 GAMBLER.
- Australia: Gambling Help Online, 1800 858 858.
- India: Tele MANAS mental health line, 14416, and the cybercrime helpline, 1930, for fraud.
For more background, read our neutral guide to online betting and casino laws, our explainer on the 1win app and its risks, and our look at Pin Up Casino and its licence.
What We Changed From the Old Post
The old post was a download guide for the 4rabet app aimed at Bangladesh. It praised the app, listed a welcome bonus and deposit steps, and described the app wrongly as a social network. We removed the download and registration steps, the bonus details, the false claims and the dated “2022” reference. In their place we added who runs the brand, what its Curacao and Anjouan licences mean, why APK installs are risky, India’s ban that took effect in May 2026, the position in Bangladesh, warning signs, steps to take if you installed the app, and help lines.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the 4rabet app legal in India?
No. Since 1 May 2026 India bans online money games, including betting apps, along with their adverts and payments. A court challenge is pending but has not changed the ban.
Is 4rabet licensed?
Public registers list a provisional Curacao licence and an Anjouan licence. Neither allows it to serve players in countries such as India, the UK, the US or Australia.
Is the 4rabet APK safe to install?
Any APK from outside an official store carries risk, and fake copies of betting apps are common. We do not recommend installing it.
Where can I get help with gambling?
Use the help lines listed above, talk to someone you trust, or speak to a doctor or counsellor.