Government blocks 300 “illegal” gambling and betting platforms

The government has banned 300 illegal gambling platforms, raising the total to nearly 8,400 to protect citizens from online risks.

The Centre has blocked about 300 websites and applications for allegedly running illegal gambling and betting operations, taking the total number of prohibited websites so far to nearly 8,400, according to government sources.

The banned entities include sports betting portals, casino platforms offering slots and roulette, live dealer tables, betting exchanges functioning like peer-to-peer betting marketplaces, “satta/matka” gambling networks, and “real-money” cards and casino game applications.

A majority of such platforms, close to 4,900, have been blocked after the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act came into force last year. The law passed by Parliament on August 21, 2025, is aimed at shielding citizens from the menace of online money games while promoting and regulating other kinds of online gaming activities.

“This legislation is designed to curb addiction, financial ruin and social distress caused by predatory gaming platforms that thrive on misleading promises of quick wealth. It reflects the Government’s resolve to safeguard families while guiding the digital economy towards safe and constructive growth,” the government had earlier said.

It said that the World Health Organisation classifies gaming disorder as a health condition in its International Classification of Diseases, describing it as a pattern of play marked by loss of control, neglect of other daily activities, and persistence despite harmful consequences.

Earlier, Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw told the Rajya Sabha that as per an estimate, 45 crore people were negatively affected by online money games and faced a loss of over ₹20,000 crore.