Crackdown on gaming and betting sites; Centre blocks over 1,500 sites
STC NEWS DESK
NEW DELHI, AUGUST 02 (STC): The Union government has blocked over 1,500 gaming, betting, and gambling websites across the country in the last three years. This has been done to regulate online gaming and curb its associated risks such as addiction, financial fraud, and money laundering.
In a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology, Jitin Prasada, said that 1,524 websites were blocked between 2022 and June 2025 under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act. These actions are part of a larger legal and enforcement framework to make online gaming safer and more transparent.
Under the amended Information Technology Rules, 2021 — updated in April 2023 — online gaming intermediaries must register with Self-Regulatory Bodies (SRBs), which check if a game qualifies as a “permissible real money game.”
To crack down on offshore and unregistered platforms, the government now allows blocking of gaming sites that are not registered under the GST system, with the Directorate General of GST Intelligence empowered to act against such entities. Intermediaries can also be ordered to disable access to these platforms.
The recently introduced Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, includes strict penalties for illegal betting and gambling, with jail terms ranging from one to seven years.
Notably, the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 empowers authorities to act against misleading advertisements, including those promoted by celebrities and influencers. In April 2024, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting again warned media platforms and advertisers against airing such misleading betting ads.
To promote safe gaming habits among children, the Ministry of Education has issued advisories for parents and teachers. Citizens can report online fraud through the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal or by calling the toll-free helpline 1930.
The government said it is committed to protecting users from the dangers of unregulated online gaming and will continue to take strong measures to ensure a safer digital environment.
(STC)
