CRACKDOWN INTENSIFIES: 242 ILLEGAL BETTING SITES BLOCKED

NEWS: The Union Government has blocked 242 additional illegal betting and gambling websites, bringing the total number of blocked sites in this category to 7,800, following the real-money online gaming ban under the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025.

About:

• Online gambling: Involves internet-based betting to win money or prizes, covering casino games, sports betting, poker and lotteries, with regulations varying across countries.
• The activities based mainly on skill are treated as gaming, while those based on chance/luck are treated as gambling.

Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025

• Prohibits offering, advertising, or facilitating real-money gaming and bars banks and financial institutions from processing payments linked to such platforms.
• Authorities are empowered to block illegal online gaming and gambling platforms using powers under the Information Technology Act, 2000
• A 28% GST applies to online money gaming, casinos and horse racing