The Indian government blocked around 300 illegal online gambling and betting websites and apps on Friday. The action was taken just before the IPL 2026 season, a time when illegal betting activity in India rises sharply.
How It Was Done
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) issued the blocking orders on the recommendation of the Ministry of Home Affairs.
The orders were passed under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, which gives the government power to block access to illegal online platforms. Internet service providers and app stores were directed to cut access to the identified platforms immediately.
What Was Blocked
The banned platforms included online sports betting websites, casino apps offering slots, roulette and live dealer games, peer-to-peer betting exchanges, satta and matka gambling networks, and real-money card and casino gaming apps. Many of these platforms were found to be operating through mirror sites and mobile apps, making them harder to detect.
Total Count Crosses 8,400
This latest action takes the total number of blocked gambling and betting websites to nearly 8,400. Of these, close to 4,900 were blocked after the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act came into force. The Act was passed by Parliament on August 21, 2025.
Earlier, the government had also blocked 242 illegal betting and gambling website links in a separate round of action.
The Scale of the Problem
Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw told the Rajya Sabha that around 45 crore people in India were negatively affected by online money games. He said they faced a combined loss of over Rs 20,000 crore. The government also found that some platforms were being used for terror financing and illegal messaging.
The World Health Organisation classifies gaming disorder as a health condition. It describes it as a pattern of play marked by loss of control and neglect of daily activities, even when harmful effects are clear.
What the Law Says
Under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Section 112 prescribes punishment for unauthorised betting and gambling. Offenders face a minimum of one year in prison, which can extend up to seven years, along with fines. The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act also prohibits all forms of online money games and bans their advertising and promotion.
The Information and Broadcasting Ministry had also issued advisories in 2022, 2023 and 2024, warning media platforms, advertisers and influencers against promoting illegal betting apps.
Crackdown to Continue
Officials said the crackdown is ongoing. More platforms are currently under review for possible blocking. Enforcement agencies are working with internet service providers to monitor new illegal platforms as they appear. The government has said it also plans to strengthen international cooperation to target cross-border betting networks.
