Rapid Fire
Ban on Illegal Betting & Gambling Sites
- 21 Jan 2026
- 2 min read
Recently, the Union Government blocked 242 illegal betting and gambling websites, taking the total blocked under this category to 7,800, following the ban on real-money online gaming under the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025.
Online Gambling
- About: Online gambling involves internet-based betting to win money or prizes, covering casino games, sports betting, poker and lotteries, with regulations varying across countries.
- Modus Operandi: Illegal operators exploit regulatory gaps by avoiding GST, frequently switching URLs to evade blocking, and siphoning funds abroad through mule accounts, complicating enforcement and financial recovery.
- Status in India: Although betting and gambling traditionally fall under Entry 34 of the State List, the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025, has imposed a nationwide ban on all real-money online games.
- The Act prohibits offering, advertising, or facilitating real-money gaming and bars banks and financial institutions from processing payments linked to such platforms.
- Authorities are empowered to block illegal online gaming and gambling platforms using powers under the Information Technology Act, 2000.
- GST Provision: A 28% GST applies to online money gaming, casinos and horse racing.
- Online Gaming vs Gambling: The activities based mainly on skill are treated as gaming, while those based on chance/luck are treated as gambling.
| Read more: Regulating India’s Online Gaming Industry |
