If you have watched an IPL match on your phone in the last few years, there is a fair chance a Crickex ad has crossed your screen. Maybe it was a reel with a famous face in it. Maybe it was a “sports news” page with a name that looked oddly familiar. Crickex is an online betting and casino brand aimed squarely at cricket fans in India, Bangladesh and nearby countries.
So who runs it, and can you legally use it in 2026? If you live in India or Bangladesh, the short answer to the second question is no. The longer answer is below, with the risks and a few helpline numbers worth saving.
This is general information, not legal or financial advice. We don’t link to betting sites, and we won’t tell you how to sign up.
Table of Contents
Quick Facts
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| What it is | Online sports betting, betting exchange and casino brand |
| Launched | 2019, according to the company |
| Stated operator | VB Digital N.V., Curacao |
| Licence claimed | A Curacao sub licence from the old master licence system |
| Target markets | India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, UAE |
| Status in India | Online money games banned since 1 May 2026 |
| Status in Bangladesh | Online gambling an offence under a 2025 ordinance |
| Help in India | Tele MANAS 14416, cybercrime 1930 |
What Is Crickex?
On its own pages, Crickex calls itself a sports betting site and a betting exchange. Cricket is the big draw, with casino style games on the side. The company says it started in 2019, and the site runs in Hindi, English and Bangla.
The exchange part confuses people. On a normal betting site you bet against the house. On an exchange you bet against other users, and the operator takes a commission. Crickex mixes that with fixed odds betting and casino games, so in daily use it looks like most offshore betting sites.
Where it stands out is the marketing budget. Former India batter Robin Uthappa and Bengali actress Srabanti Chatterjee were announced as ambassadors in 2023. Bangladeshi film star Pori Moni came next, in 2024. Model Tangia Zaman Methila followed in 2025.
Notice something about many of those promotions? The word “betting” is often missing. They run under a news or sports brand with almost the same name. That is deliberate. More on it below.
Who Runs Crickex, and What “Licensed in Curacao” Means
The about pages name the operator as VB Digital N.V., a company registered in Curacao, a small Caribbean island. The site points to a sub licence numbered 365/JAZ, issued under one of Curacao’s old master licences.
That old system was loose. A few companies held master licences, and each could hand out sub licences to other brands after very light checks.
Curacao has since scrapped it. A new National Ordinance on Games of Chance came into force on 24 December 2024, sub licences under the old master licences ran out during 2025, and operators now need a licence straight from the Curacao Gaming Authority. Does Crickex’s operator hold one? We couldn’t confirm it from any public source. So read the licence line on the site as what it is: a claim.
Honestly, even a valid Curacao licence would not do much for someone in Kolkata or Dhaka. A licence from one country doesn’t make a service legal in another, and it gives you nobody local to complain to if a withdrawal is refused.
The Law in India in 2026
This changed fast. The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act 2025 received assent on 22 August 2025. Its rules were notified on 22 April 2026, and it took effect on 1 May 2026.
The core of it is blunt. Online money games, betting included, are banned. Esports and free social games are on the other side of the line.
- Offering online money games: up to three years in prison and a fine of up to Rs 1 crore.
- Advertising them: up to two years and up to Rs 50 lakh.
- Banks and payment apps can’t process these transactions.
- Offshore sites can be blocked.
A challenge to the Act is pending in the Supreme Court. Until the judges rule, the ban stands.
The Law in Bangladesh
Bangladesh doesn’t license online betting at all. Section 20 of the Cyber Security Ordinance 2025 makes it an offence to create, run, take part in, help with or advertise online gambling. “Take part in” means players are covered, not just operators. The penalty is up to two years in jail, a fine of up to Tk 1 crore, or both. Promotion on social media counts too.
What About Other Countries?
It is a patchwork. The UK requires a Gambling Commission licence. In the US, sports betting is legal in 39 states plus Washington DC, under state licences. Brazil opened a regulated market on 1 January 2025. Almost everywhere, a brand without a local licence can’t take bets from local residents.
How Offshore Brands Get Around Ad Bans
Betting ads are restricted or banned across most of South Asia, so offshore brands rarely show their real name. You get the “surrogate” instead: a sports news site or entertainment channel whose name is a word away from the betting brand. That name goes on jerseys and boundary boards. Everyone gets the hint.
India’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting warned media outlets about surrogate betting ads in 2022, then again in 2023. Since May 2026, advertising online money games is a crime in itself.
Then there are influencers. A short clip, a screen full of winnings, a promo code pinned in the comments. You never see the losing week. Many creators are paid per signup, so treat that post as an advert. Same with celebrity endorsements. They are paid for, and they tell you nothing about whether a service is safe or legal.
Betting and Cricket Integrity
Big unregulated betting markets also make the sport easier to corrupt. The ICC Anti Corruption Unit investigates approaches to players and officials, and several players have been banned in recent years just for not reporting them. Unlicensed markets don’t share data on suspicious betting patterns, which leaves investigators partly in the dark.
The Real Risks for Users
- Legal trouble. In India or Bangladesh you may be breaking the law, and payments can be frozen.
- Untraceable money. Deposits often go through agents, crypto or third party wallets. Getting that money back is very hard.
- Refused withdrawals. No local regulator, no easy court route.
- Clone sites. Look alike domains and apps copy known names to grab deposits and data.
- Your ID. Documents uploaded for “verification” can be misused.
- Losses. The app is in your pocket all night. That is why losses pile up so quickly.
Spotting a Betting Scam
- A WhatsApp or Telegram message promising guaranteed wins, fixed matches or a “sure shot” tip.
- An agent asking for deposits into a personal bank account or UPI ID.
- A “fee” you must pay before winnings are released.
- An app you can only install from a link, not an official app store.
Already caught out? Screenshot every chat and payment, then report it quickly. In India, call the cybercrime helpline on 1930. Call your bank too. Some banks will block gambling transactions on a card if you ask.
When Betting Stops Being Fun
It creeps up. You chase a loss. You borrow a little to win it back. You stop mentioning it at home. If that sounds familiar, for you or someone close, help is free and confidential:
- UK: GamCare, 0808 8020 133.
- USA: 1 800 GAMBLER.
- Australia: Gambling Help Online, 1800 858 858.
- India: Tele MANAS, 14416, and the cybercrime helpline, 1930, for fraud.
Worried about a friend? You don’t need perfect words. Listening without judging and passing on a number is often the best first step. Parents, take a quiet look at your child’s phone as well, since betting apps often arrive through links on social media.
For more reading, see our guide to online betting and casino laws and risks, our look at why cricket rules the Indian internet, and our article on mental health and addiction.
What We Changed From the Old Post
The old post was a review. It covered Crickex’s markets, bonuses, interface and mobile app, listed Android and iOS system requirements, and ended with a glowing “expert opinion”. The title even used a Cyrillic letter instead of the English C. We cut the promotional material, including all app and bonus details. What remains is a neutral explainer on the brand, its licence claim, the 2026 law in India and Bangladesh, the risks and where to get help.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Crickex legal in India?
No. Online money games, betting included, have been banned since 1 May 2026 under the 2025 Act. A Supreme Court challenge is pending.
Is Crickex legal in Bangladesh?
No. Online gambling is an offence under the Cyber Security Ordinance 2025.
Does a Curacao licence make Crickex safe?
Not really. It doesn’t make a service legal where you live or guarantee payouts, and we couldn’t verify the operator’s current licence.
Where can I get help with betting problems?
In India, call Tele MANAS on 14416. In the UK, call GamCare on 0808 8020 133.