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The government of India imposes ban on 8,376 websites associated with online betting and gambling by March 28, 2026, according to a recent Lok Sabha response. This move underscores the government’s aggressive stance against offshore digital platforms that continue to operate despite legal restrictions.
More than 4,800 of these URLs were taken down following the enforcement of the Online Gaming Act, 2025, which prohibits online money gaming. The government’s actions are supported by several legal frameworks, including the IT Act, 2000 and IT Rules, 2021, which require intermediaries to prevent illegal content. Violators face penalties under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, which mandates imprisonment from 1 year to 7 years and fines for unauthorized betting activities.
The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025 further restricts financial transactions and advertisements related to online gambling. Additionally, the Integrated Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017 imposes a 28% GST on gambling and aids in blocking unregistered offshore sites through the Directorate General of GST Intelligence.
Offshore Gambling Continues to Grow
Despite these measures, offshore betting platforms remain widely accessible. A study by CUTS International in Delhi NCR from December 2025 found that usage increased from 68.3% before the ban to 82% afterward, a rise of 20.1%. Daily access surged from 3.4% to 42.3%, with users spending more time and money on these platforms. The survey also noted the use of mirror domains and domestic payment methods like UPI to circumvent restrictions.
A separate survey in Tamil Nadu in January 2026 revealed a 15.2% increase in offshore platform usage post-ban, indicating a persistent issue across different states. The scale of the offshore gambling market was highlighted in a MediaNama panel discussion in September 2025, where Dhruv Garg, Partner at IGAP, estimated the market to be worth a conservative $20 billion. He emphasized that this money was leaving the country illegally, with tax evasion exceeding $4 billion, surpassing revenues from India’s domestic gambling industry.
The government’s enforcement efforts, while extensive, have not been enough to fully eliminate offshore betting. With thousands of sites already blocked and offshore platforms continually adapting to stay accessible, the challenge for regulators remains significant.
