His Government had recently stepped up its efforts to combat illegal online gaming and betting platforms, with 300 websites and mobile applications banned in the latest round of law enforcement operations. As part of a broader overhaul, the purpose of the round is to control unauthorized online gold games and to strengthen the regulation of the entire digital ecology.
The enforcement campaign targeted various platforms associated with illegal lottery activities, including the online sports lottery website, which provides online platforms for games such as tiger machines, roulettes and other games, as well as a point-to-point trading exchange. According to the Indian Press Trust, the authorities also use illegal websites and genuine gold games that provide card and casino-style games. The aim is to combat illegal activities, whether organized large platforms or small networks that move outside the legal framework. According to sources, the 300 new banned platforms are only part of the larger strike list. To date, more than 8,400 illegal gambling and recording sites and applications have been blocked. According to the data, almost 4,900 were blocked after the introduction of the Online Games Promotion and Regulation Act 2025. The Government of India has consistently emphasized its commitment to a safe, transparent and accountable online playing environment. Recent actions are consistent with that goal and reflect a more stringent regulatory approach.
The Online Game Promotion and Regulation Act, enacted in August 2025, prohibits all online gold games in India, including speculation, techniques and hybrid games involving money bets. It also strictly prohibits advertising, promotion and assistance in such games. Financial transactions with related platforms are also restricted and the bank and payment systems are not allowed to process related payments. Under the endorsement of the Information Technology Act 2000, the authorities can impose direct penalties on illegal platforms, making law enforcement more expeditious and allowing for a larger-scale blocking of illegal websites and applications. The Online Game Promotion and Regulation Act 2025 provides for severe penalties for individuals and entities who provide or support online genuine gold games. The offender may face up to three years ‘ imprisonment, a fine of Rs. 10 million (approximately US$ 106945) or even both. Advertising such platforms is also illegal. The offender is liable to imprisonment for up to two years or a fine of up to 5 million rupees (approximately US$ 53,472). The penalty is increased for repeated offences.
The Online Games Promotion and Regulation Act 2025 will strongly support the development of legal areas such as electronic competition and online social games, and the Government of India has introduced a series of measures to support innovation in the industry. The new framework will establish a national “on-line game regulator”, which will be responsible for categorizing and registering games, judging which are “money-related games” and developing relevant operational norms. It will also deal with player complaints, establish complaint mechanisms and ensure that violations are prevented and combated. Officially, law enforcement operations will continue to be pursued, monitoring of digital platforms and financial flows on a continuous basis, focusing on new illegal operators, and preventing the re-emergence of proscribed platforms. The campaign also demonstrated that the Government of India is continuously strengthening its regulation of the online game industry, in particular by limiting the development of unauthorized lottery activities in India.
