TLDR
- Kalshi blocked Indian users on June 17, 2026, reversing its October 2025 expansion into 140+ countries
- India’s Online Gaming Act 2025, which took effect May 1, treats prediction markets as illegal gambling
- Polymarket was blocked by Indian authorities around May 21, with Kalshi following weeks later
- Nine European countries signed a joint declaration on June 17 targeting unlicensed prediction market platforms
- Kalshi now lists 55 restricted jurisdictions, with European ISP blocking already in place in several countries
Kalshi has quietly blocked users in India from trading on its platform, reversing a major international expansion it announced just eight months ago. The change came through an update to its member agreement dated June 17, 2026.
The update adds India to Kalshi’s list of restricted jurisdictions, which now covers 55 countries and territories. Anyone domiciled, organized, or located in India can no longer access the platform’s event contract trading.
The move marks a sharp turn from October 2025, when Kalshi announced plans to serve users in more than 140 countries, including India and China.
Why India Shut the Door
India’s Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act 2025 came into force on May 1. Legal analysts have broadly concluded that prediction markets fall within its definition of illegal online gambling.
The law carries serious penalties. Anyone who facilitates, promotes, or finances illegal online gambling faces criminal charges, including possible imprisonment.
India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology issued an advisory on April 25. It warned VPN providers and other intermediaries not to help users access blocked platforms, naming Polymarket and similar sites.
Polymarket was blocked by Indian authorities around May 21. Kalshi held on for a few more weeks before following.
Kalshi’s legal counsel had said in mid-May the company had contacted the Indian government and received no formal shutdown order. She added the platform would comply if one came. It did.
The crackdown hit other gambling operators too. Flutter Entertainment stopped all paid contests through its Indian skill gaming subsidiary Junglee, which had been on track to generate around $200 million in revenue for 2026.
Europe Moves in Lockstep
The same day Kalshi updated its member agreement, gambling regulators from nine European countries signed a joint declaration targeting prediction market platforms operating without a local license.
Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, and Switzerland all signed the June 17 declaration. It is the first time European regulators have coordinated in this way against prediction markets.
The declaration came during the opening days of the FIFA World Cup, a period that draws intense betting activity.
Regulators flagged concerns including weak identity and age checks, limited betting controls, insider trading risks, and potential harm to younger users. France’s gambling authority warned of an addictive cycle these platforms can create.
Enforceable tools listed in the declaration include formal warnings, fines, advertising restrictions, and ISP-level blocking. Spain, France, the Netherlands, and Belgium already block both Polymarket and Kalshi at the ISP level.
Regulators also called on sports federations, leagues, and clubs to check whether any prediction market operator they deal with holds a valid local license.
Kalshi now operates with 55 restricted jurisdictions on its list, and the number may grow as European enforcement actions develop.
