New Delhi, January 16, 2026 – In a powerful escalation of its war against illegal online activities, the Narendra Modi-led Central Government has ordered the blocking of 242 additional unlawful betting and gambling websites in the first major action of 2026. This latest move takes the cumulative number of blocked illegal betting platforms across India to more than 7,800, marking one of the most aggressive campaigns ever launched against illegal betting and online gambling in the country.
The intensified crackdown comes on the back of the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025, which was passed by Parliament in August 2025 and enforced shortly thereafter. The landmark legislation completely bans real-money gaming (RMG) — commonly known as online betting involving real cash stakes — along with all forms of advertising and promotion of such activities. Any violation now attracts severe penalties, including imprisonment of up to three years and fines reaching ₹1 crore.
According to highly placed government sources, the overwhelming majority of these prohibited betting platforms and mobile apps deliberately target India’s youth. By offering the false promise of quick and easy money through sports betting, casino-style games, and other forms of online gambling, these platforms trap young users in cycles of addiction. The consequences have been devastating: families ruined by mounting debts, severe mental health issues, broken relationships, and, in the most tragic instances, suicides directly linked to gambling losses.
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has been at the forefront of this nationwide operation. Since 2022, the ministry has already directed internet service providers to block over 1,400 illegal betting apps and websites. However, the enforcement of the 2025 Act has dramatically improved the speed and efficiency of detection and blocking, allowing authorities to act within hours or days of identifying new rogue platforms.
Government officials have reiterated that the crackdown on illegal betting will continue relentlessly. “There will be zero tolerance for any platform that violates the law. Strict monitoring mechanisms are already in place and will only get stronger in the coming months,” a senior MeitY official stated on condition of anonymity.
Importantly, the Online Gaming Act, 2025 is not merely prohibitive. It also actively promotes positive alternatives such as e-sports, skill-based games without real-money stakes, and educational or socially beneficial online gaming formats. By clearly distinguishing between harmful real-money betting and legitimate skill-based entertainment, the government aims to protect young Indians from financial exploitation while simultaneously boosting India’s rapidly growing digital economy and gaming industry.
The move has received widespread appreciation from child rights activists, psychologists, financial counsellors, and concerned parents. Many view the aggressive action against illegal betting and online gambling as a timely and necessary intervention to safeguard an entire generation from what has become one of the fastest-growing social hazards in urban and semi-urban India.
That said, a section of the legitimate gaming and technology industry has expressed concerns that the blanket ban on real-money gaming could impact job creation, innovation, and foreign investment in the broader gaming ecosystem. The government, however, has consistently clarified that the objective is laser-focused: to eliminate only illegal betting and harmful online gambling practices while encouraging regulated, skill-based, non-gambling gaming formats.
As India moves deeper into 2026, the message from New Delhi is unambiguous — illegal betting and online gambling platforms that prey on vulnerable citizens will face swift and decisive action. With more than 7,800 websites already blocked and the legal framework now stronger than ever, the Central Government appears determined to win the battle against this modern digital menace.
For parents, educators, and young users: awareness remains the first line of defence. Report suspicious betting apps and websites immediately, and choose only skill-based, non-monetary gaming experiences.
