The country’s federal government has continued enforcement by blocking an additional several hundred illegal online betting and gambling sites. Reports detail that the total number of blocked sites has exceeded 7,800 since the act to regulate online gaming began in January of 2025. This enforcement, targeting unlicensed sites offering real-money betting, attempts to disrupt networks that operate illegally. As the enforcement focuses more on the unlicensed sites and less on the bettors themselves, the state has expressed increasing concern for unregulated cyber fraud and digital betting.
India’s latest enforcement action has been one of the biggest sweeps since the Act’s inception in late 2025. On January 16, 2026, the state instructed ISPs to block 242 websites that the government claimed encouraged unlawful betting and gambling. The decision was made considering the negative implications of unregulated online betting targeted toward young adults and other susceptible individuals- the country has a large section of the population with internet access looking at these options as a quick means out of poverty. State representatives stated that the enforcement action was intended to protect the public and the country’s finances while enforcing the new law.
The act provided authorities with the ability to limit access to online platforms that enable real money gambling, while also increasing the liability for illegal gaming to operators, promoters, advertisers, and financial backers, as per sources.
Authorities stated that a number of the blocked websites advertised gambling-like games with promotional offers such as free spins no deposit where players can participate without an initial financial commitment. These types of offers target users and encourage them to participate in gambling, which is illegal in India. Such websites are typically offshore and unregulated, as wagering is unlawful in India.
Authorities have also explained that the practice of registering multiple domain names or affiliate networks to evade detection creates a greater risk for users’ financial exploitation as enforcement becomes more difficult. The recent sweep attempts to address this problem by integrating enforcement with a digital strategy.
Legislation states that any platform that offers wagering with the potential of monetary gain must be properly licensed. Between 2022 and mid 2025, officials had preemptively banned over 1,500 active betting and gambling websites and apps under existing digital regulations prior to the enactment of the existing act.
Authorities Target Illegal Gambling Operations
The state’s actions went beyond blocking websites and involved law enforcement. Multiple arrests were made in relation to the provision of obscure communication and financial facilitation networks that enabled offshore contractual operators to circumvent Indian laws.
Officials stated that the financial systems used by illegal networks to evade enforcement are highly sophisticated, and that control and manipulation of these systems are the primary goals of enforcement.
India’s cybercrime divisions are instrumental in monitoring illegal betting. These divisions use digital intelligence and coordination with ISPs, as well as routine domain sweeps, to identify fraudulent applications. Courts have justified the domain blocking, stating the domain infringes the designs of licensed services to deceive users.
Due to the reality that operators can build mirror sites, cybercrime units have determined that such sites should be subject to ongoing monitoring to reduce illegal services and illegal public exposure. This explains the importance of continued vigilance of these sites by cybercrime units.
Public Advised to Avoid Unlicensed Gambling Sites
Authorities have advised the public against engaging with sites that are illegal. According to research, these sites are known to be illegal, offer little or no protection, and leave users vulnerable to financial fraud and untraceable losses.
Experts say that online betting sites target users temporarily and use risky methods for payments and payouts. Although users can’t legally be charged for visiting a site that may be illegal, the law is rarely able to help users who have lost money through fraud. It is illegal to promote unlicensed gambling sites, and those who do can be fined and jailed.
The state plans to regulate certain online betting services and remove those that jeopardize users’ finances or safety. There has been a significant amount of adaptation to the new laws, even from large digital companies in India. In order to avoid new laws, digital companies have adjusted their advertising policies to avoid certain gaming categories.
The new judicial strategies and policies designed to combat unregulated online gambling are anticipated to work effectively. The improvements to the methods of control of operators and the unregulated methods of control are likely to work effectively. The digital gaming market in India will require a great deal of control to protect the users from unregulated online gambling.