TLDR
- India has blocked 8,376 URLs linked to online betting and gambling as of March 28, 2026
- Over 4,800 of those blocks came after the Online Gaming Act, 2025 took effect
- Unauthorized betting carries prison sentences of 1 to 7 years under Indian law
- Despite the crackdown, a survey found offshore platform usage rose from 68.3% to 82% after the ban
- The offshore gambling market in India is estimated to be worth at least $20 billion
India’s government has blocked more than 8,376 websites connected to online betting and gambling. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology confirmed the figure in a reply to the Lok Sabha on April 1, 2026.
The data covers enforcement actions taken up to March 28, 2026. It was shared in response to an unstarred question about offshore digital platforms operating in the country.
More than 4,800 of the blocked URLs were removed after the Online Gaming Act, 2025 came into force. That law bans online money gaming and has become a central part of the government’s push against digital gambling.
The crackdown draws on several pieces of legislation. The IT Act, 2000 and IT Rules, 2021 require intermediaries, including offshore platforms, to follow due diligence rules and block illegal content.
The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 also plays a role. It criminalizes unauthorized betting and gambling with prison terms ranging from one to seven years, along with fines.
The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025 goes further. It outlaws online money gaming as well as related financial transactions and advertising.
Taxes and Enforcement Add Pressure
Tax law is also part of the enforcement toolkit. The Integrated Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017 imposes a 28% GST on gambling. The Directorate General of GST Intelligence has the power to block unregistered or offshore gambling sites.
Together, these laws form the legal backbone of India’s campaign against online betting platforms. The government has used them to justify the large-scale blocking of thousands of URLs.
But the numbers tell a complicated story. Despite the wave of enforcement, offshore gambling use in India appears to be growing rather than shrinking.
A study by CUTS International conducted in Delhi NCR during December 2025 found that usage of offshore platforms rose from 68.3% before the ban to 82% after it. That represents a 20.1% relative increase.
The same survey found that daily access to these platforms jumped from 3.4% to 42.3%. Users were also spending more time on the platforms and increasing their monthly spending.
Bans Bypassed Through Mirror Domains and UPI
Users found ways around the restrictions using mirror domains and domestic payment methods like UPI. These tools allowed continued access to blocked platforms despite the government’s efforts.
A separate CUTS survey in Tamil Nadu from January 2026 showed a 15.2% rise in offshore platform usage after the ban. The trend was not limited to one region.
The scale of the offshore market was highlighted during a MediaNama panel discussion in September 2025. Dhruv Garg, a partner at IGAP, estimated the offshore gaming market was conservatively worth $20 billion.
Garg said the money was leaving India illegally. He added that tax evasion from the sector exceeded $4 billion, which was more than what the domestic gaming industry earned.
The latest government figures from March 2026 show that India’s enforcement push is ongoing, with 8,376 URLs blocked and more than half of those coming after the 2025 law took effect.
