Centre blocks 242 betting and gambling websites

The Centre has intensified its crackdown on illegal online betting and gambling by blocking access to 242 websites, government sources said. The move comes as part of stepped-up enforcement following the enactment of the Online Gaming Act.

Officials said the latest action underlines the government’s resolve to safeguard users—particularly young people—from the financial and social risks posed by unregulated betting platforms. The effort is also aimed at curbing addiction and monetary losses linked to illegal online gaming. “So far, over 7,800 illegal betting and gambling websites have been taken down, with a significant increase in enforcement actions after the passage of the Online Gaming Act,” a source said as reported by ANI.

Government officials noted that action reflects a broader strategy to dismantle digital ecosystems that promote unlawful gambling, often luring users with promises of quick and easy money.

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Online Gaming Act explained

President Dropadi Murmu had given her assent to The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025, which Parliament passed in August last year. The law represents a decisive push to regulate the fast-growing online gaming sector while cracking down on real-money betting and gambling platforms.

According to an official release, the bill aims to stop the addiction, money loss, and social problems that come from the gaming apps which deceive users by promising high returns. Furthermore, it indicates the government’s wish to direct the e-commerce sector to more secure and less harmful areas of development.

Global concern over gaming addiction

The seriousness of online gaming addiction has been acknowledged internationally. The World Health Organisation has classified gaming disorder as a health condition in its International Classification of Diseases, describing it as a behavioural pattern marked by loss of control, neglect of daily responsibilities and continued play despite harmful consequences.

The release said online money gaming platforms have caused widespread damage across the country. Families have reportedly lost life savings, young users have fallen into cycles of addiction, and in some tragic instances, financial distress linked to such games has resulted in suicides. Authorities said these realities prompted urgent regulatory intervention. While the Act adopts a strict stance against gambling, it also recognises online gaming as one of the fastest-growing segments of India’s digital and creative economy. Officials said the law aims to strike a balance—curbing harmful practices while enabling innovation, skill development, employment generation and global competitiveness.

The Lok Sabha passed the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025 on August 20 after a brief seven-minute discussion. The Rajya Sabha cleared it the following day, and it became law after receiving Presidential assent on August 22.

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Government data indicates that Indians lose nearly Rs 15,000 crore annually to real-money gaming platforms. The World Health Organisation has linked such games to compulsive behaviour, psychological distress and financial hardship, disrupting family life. In Karnataka alone, 32 suicides linked to online gaming addiction have been reported over the past 31 months. However, industry representatives have warned that the ban could threaten over two lakh jobs across more than 400 companies.

IT Minister Ashwani Vaishnaw clarified that the law does not prescribe penalties for individual players. The Act empowers the Centre to establish a regulatory authority to recognise, categorise and register online games. It builds on earlier amendments to IT rules that treated gaming firms as intermediaries, mandating KYC compliance, child-protection measures, parental controls and age-rating mechanisms.

However, the law does not restrict minors from accessing social games or e-sports and provides for budgetary support from the Consolidated Fund of India to promote online social gaming.

Vaishnaw said the legislation was driven by mounting complaints from users who lost vast sums on online money games, stressing that the move was not impulsive. He cited evidence suggesting gaming algorithms are designed in a way that prevents users from being net winners over time.