Big blow to illegal gaming by Centre: 242 betting and gambling sites blocked
New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): The central government has taken major action under the new online gaming law, blocking 242 online betting and gambling websites. These platforms were operating illegally. This is considered a significant step following the Online Gaming Act implemented by the government last year. To date, a total of more than 7,800 illegal betting and gambling websites have been shut down.
Last year, the government passed the Online Gaming Act, which aims to effectively curb illegal betting and gambling. Following the introduction of this legislation in Parliament, several major gaming platforms, including Dream11, My11Circle, and MPL, decided to shut down their real-money prediction games. This is another strict action by the government since the Act came into effect.
The Centre has taken major action under the Online Gaming Act, blocking 242 betting and gambling websites: In view of the increasing addiction of online gambling among the youth and common people, the government had introduced this bill in the House, which later became a law. Even before the Online Gaming Act came into force, the government had taken action against about 1400 illegal betting and gambling websites in the year 2022. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology is continuously monitoring such apps and websites, which promote gambling and betting illegally.
This law, also known as the Online Gaming Promotion and Regulation Act 2025, was approved last year. The Act's primary objective is to curb gambling addiction among youth and children. Many real-money games available on digital platforms encourage gambling, which was deemed necessary to regulate.
The Act prohibits gaming apps and websites that engage in illegal online betting, in order to promote safe and responsible e-gaming in the country. E-gaming and e-sports do not involve real-money transactions and are focused on enhancing the skill of players.
However, some websites and apps promote illegal gambling and betting under the guise of e-gaming or e-sports. The new Online Gaming Act is cracking down on such platforms to ensure a safer digital gaming ecosystem.