Online Gaming Act: Blocking of 242 Illegal Betting and Gambling Websites

Key facts

• The Government of India (GoI) blocked 242 illegal betting and gambling website links under the Online Gaming Act, which came into force in October 2025.
• The "Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025" received presidential assent in August 2025 to promote e-sports and social online games while banning harmful money-based gaming.
• The online gaming rules came into effect on October 1, 2025, focusing on curbing financial and social harm caused by illegal online betting and gambling platforms.
• Enforcement actions have resulted in more than 7,800 such platforms being taken down to protect users, especially the youth.
• Under the regulations, action will be taken against service providers, advertisers, promoters and those financing such platforms, while players themselves will not be penalised.