India Blocks Thousands of iGaming Websites

In India, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) reported the blocking of 8,376 iGaming website URLs as of March 28, 2026, in a response to a Lok Sabha query.

Number of Websites Blocked

According to MeitY, a total of 8,376 URLs linked to online betting and gambling have been blocked or restricted.

Blocking Timeline

More than 4,800 blocks occurred after the PROG Act came into force on October 1, 2025.

Legal Framework Against Online Gambling

India has several laws regulating online betting and gambling activities.

Key Laws

Information Technology Act, 2000 and the 2021 rules require platforms to monitor content and prevent violations.

Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 sets penalties for illegal betting, including 1 to 7 years of imprisonment and fines.

PROG Act, 2025 bans real-money gaming and restricts related financial transactions and advertising.

IGST Act, 2017 imposes a 28% tax and allows authorities to block unregistered offshore platforms.

Growth of Offshore Platform Usage

Despite restrictions, the use of offshore platforms continues to grow.

Research Data

According to a CUTS International study conducted in December 2025 in the Delhi NCR region, user share increased from 68.3% to 82% after the ban.

Daily usage rose from 3.4% to 42.3%, with longer sessions and higher monthly spending.

Users bypass restrictions through mirror sites and local payment methods, including UPI.

A separate study in January 2026 in Tamil Nadu showed a 15.2% increase in offshore platform usage.

Scale of Offshore Gambling Market

Experts describe the offshore betting market in India as a large segment.

Industry Estimates

According to industry discussions, the market size may reach around $20 billion.

It is also noted that a significant share of funds leaves the country, with tax losses exceeding $4 billion.