NEW DELHI – The Government of India is intensifying its “zero-tolerance” stance against unauthorized online wagering. Government sources revealed on January 16, 2026, that authorities have blocked an additional 242 illegal betting and gambling websites in their latest crackdown. Since the implementation of the new national gaming law last year, the total number of shut-down platforms has now surpassed 7,800.
The PROGA Era: A Unified National Ban
This large-scale enforcement action is driven by the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act (PROGA). Since it officially came into effect on October 1, 2025, the Act has fundamentally reshaped the legal landscape of the Indian gaming industry:
- Nationwide Ban on Real-Money Gaming: PROGA prohibits all forms of real-money gaming, betting, and gambling activities across India, overriding the previous patchwork of state-level regulations.
- Clear Distinctions: While “real-money gaming” is banned, the law explicitly permits Esports and social online games that do not involve monetary wagering, provided they adhere to strict government guidelines.
- Regulatory Oversight: The Act mandates the establishment of a “National Online Gaming Commission” to oversee licensing, compliance, and grievance redressal for permitted gaming sectors.
Enforcement Priorities: Targeting the Supply Chain
Government officials emphasized that current enforcement efforts are designed to dismantle the illegal ecosystem rather than penalize individual users.
- Strategic Targets: Action is primarily directed at platform operators, advertisers, social media influencers, and the financial backers of illegal sites.
- Increased Monitoring: Authorities have ramped up surveillance of digital advertising networks and influencer-led marketing to prevent illegal platforms from reaching new users through “surrogate” methods.
- Strict Penalties: Violators operating real-money games face up to 3 years of imprisonment and fines of up to ₹10 million. Illegal advertisements can result in up to 2 years of imprisonment.
The Technical Battle: URL Switching and Mule Accounts
Authorities acknowledged that combating illegal operators is a persistent technological challenge. Many offshore platforms use sophisticated tactics to evade detection:
- URL Switching: Operators quickly move to new domain names once a specific URL is blocked by the government.
- Mule Bank Accounts: Illegal platforms often use bank accounts belonging to ordinary citizens to funnel betting proceeds out of the country, making financial trails difficult to trace.
“This latest action reflects the government’s determination to protect users, particularly the youth. The financial losses, addiction risks, and exposure of minors linked to illegal online betting are social threats we must eradicate.” — Official from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)
