1,524 Orders Issued To Block Online Gambling Platforms: Govt

SUMMARY

While noting that states have the power to legislate on matters related to betting and gambling, the MoS noted that the Centre offers assistance to LEAs to curb such platforms

Prasada also underscored that DGGI has been empowered under the IT Act to issue directions to intermediaries to block unregistered online gaming platforms

More than two dozen offshore gaming applications are reportedly under the radar of ED for remitting and round-tripping funds

The government issued 1,524 orders to block online betting and gambling platforms between 2022 and June 2025, minister of state (MoS) for IT Jitin Prasada has informed the Parliament in a written reply.

“From 2022 till June 2025, the Government has issued 1,524 blocking directions related to online betting/gambling/gaming websites and mobile applications,” Prasada said.

The MoS also underscored that the Directorate General of GST Intelligence (DGGI) has been empowered under the IT Act to issue directions to intermediaries to block unregistered online gaming platforms.

While noting that state legislatures have the power to legislate on matters related to betting and gambling, Prasada noted that the Union government offers assistance to local law enforcement agencies (LEAs) to curb such “illegal platforms.

“The Central Government supplements the efforts of the States/Union Territories through advisories and financial assistance under various schemes for capacity building of their LEA,” Prasada added.

For context, betting and gambling is a state subject under the seventh schedule of the Constitution.

The comments come at a time when regulators have cracked the whip on both offshore as well as unregistered gaming and betting platforms. Just last year, the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) issued an advisory and warned celebrities against promoting illegal online betting platforms in the country.

As per reports, more than two dozen offshore gaming applications are under the radar of ED for remitting and round-tripping funds.

More recently, the enforcement directorate (ED) filed an enforcement case information report (ECIR) against celebrities, including Rana Daggubati, Prakash Raj, Vijay Deverakonda and 26 others, for allegedly promoting illegal betting apps such as Junglee Rummy, A23, JeetWin, and Parimatch.

Last week, the agency also issued notices to big tech giants Meta and Google in connection with its ongoing probe into such illegal platforms.