Govt. has blocked 8,376 betting, gambling and gaming URLs
India has blocked over 8,000 gambling websites, but offshore betting usage continues to rise sharply. The post Govt. has blocked 8,376 betting, gambling and gaming URLs appeared first on MEDIANAMA .
The Indian government has taken a firm stance against online gambling and betting by blocking over 8,000 websites linked to such activities. As of March 28, 2026, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has blocked or taken action against 8,376 URLs, as revealed in a Lok Sabha response to an unstarred question on April 1, 2026. This move follows the enactment of several key laws aimed at regulating and curbing online gambling platforms.
The most significant of these laws is the Online Gaming Act, 2025, which prohibits online money gaming. This act has led to the blocking of more than 4,800 websites. In addition to this, the Information Technology Act, 2000 (IT Act) and the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 (IT Rules) require intermediaries, including offshore platforms, to exercise due diligence and prevent unlawful or harmful content. Failure to comply with these rules can result in legal liabilities.
The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (BNS) further criminalizes unauthorized betting and gambling, with penalties ranging from 1 to 7 years' imprisonment, along with fines. The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025 (PROG Act) prohibits online money gaming and restricts related financial transactions and advertisements. Lastly, the Integrated Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017 (IGST Act) imposes a 28% GST on unregistered offshore platforms, enabling the Directorate General of GST Intelligence (DGGI) to block such platforms.
Despite these stringent measures, offshore betting and gambling platforms continue to expand and gain traction in India. A December 2025 CUTS International survey conducted in the Delhi NCR region found that usage of offshore betting and gambling platforms rose from 68.3% pre-ban to 82% post-ban, representing a 20.1% relative increase. The survey also revealed a significant surge in daily access, with the percentage rising from 3.4% to 42.3%. Users reported longer session durations and higher monthly spending, indicating a growing trend in offshore gambling.
To bypass government restrictions, users often employ mirror domains and domestic payment methods such as the Unified Payments Interface (UPI). A January 2026 CUTS survey conducted in Tamil Nadu further highlighted the persistence of offshore gambling usage, with a 15.2% rise in offshore platform usage post-ban.
The scale of offshore gambling in India remains a cause for concern, as the government's efforts to block websites are met with innovative strategies by users and platforms to circumvent these restrictions. As the government continues to enforce its laws, the challenge lies in effectively regulating and controlling the growing offshore gambling industry while protecting users from potential harm.
