The Indian government has blocked another 242 illegal online casinos

Indian authorities have moved to disable 242 illegal online casino website links, continuing a sustained effort to remove unlicensed real-money casino services from the country’s digital space. The action is part of a wider enforcement drive that has gained momentum since the rollout of new national gaming rules.

Officials familiar with the matter said the overall number of illegal online casino sites blocked across India has now climbed beyond 7,800. Much of this activity has taken place in recent months, following the introduction of tighter oversight mechanisms under the country’s updated online gaming legislation.

According to government sources, the blocked websites were operating outside any recognized legal framework while actively targeting Indian users. Many offered real-money casino games and relied on aggressive online promotion, including paid social media campaigns and influencer endorsements, to attract traffic.

Enforcement accelerates after legal reset

The current crackdown follows the implementation of the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, commonly referred to as PROGA. The legislation completed the parliamentary process earlier in 2025 and received presidential approval in August, with enforcement provisions taking effect on 1 October.

Since then, authorities have expanded digital surveillance efforts, focusing on website access points, advertising activity and payment channels linked to illegal online casino operations. Officials say the new legal framework has simplified the process of identifying violations and acting against non-compliant services.

Nationwide ban on real-money online casinos

Under PROGA, online casinos that involve wagering money or offering cash-based outcomes are prohibited across India. The restrictions extend beyond the games themselves, covering promotion, marketing and financial arrangements connected to illegal online casino activity.

At the same time, the law allows certain non-monetary digital games — including competitive and social formats — provided they meet defined compliance standards. The distinction is intended to separate skill-based entertainment from activities viewed as posing higher consumer risks.

Authorities target supply, not demand

Officials say the campaign is not aimed at ordinary users. Instead, authorities are going after the companies and individuals who run illegal online casinos and profit from their operation. This includes those who manage the sites, arrange promotion or move money on their behalf.

Enforcement action ranges from fines to legal proceedings, with agencies concentrating on shutting down website access and cutting the financial links that allow illegal online casinos to keep operating.

Central regulator to oversee compliance

The legislation also calls for the establishment of a National Online Gaming Commission. The body will be responsible for licensing oversight, compliance monitoring and the handling of user complaints related to authorised online gaming activities.

Officials say the commission will work alongside central and state authorities to ensure consistent application of the rules, replacing the fragmented regulatory landscape that existed previously.

What this means for India’s online casino sector

The ongoing shutdown of illegal websites is beginning to change how online casinos operate in India. With unlicensed real-money services increasingly cut off from local users, the space is becoming harder to access and less profitable for offshore operators. The result is a quieter market, fewer aggressive promotions and a noticeable decline in the visibility of illegal online casinos targeting Indian players.

Government officials say the campaign is driven first and foremost by user safety. They point to repeated cases of financial harm, problem play and underage access linked to illegal online casino websites as key reasons for maintaining pressure on the sector.

Earlier, we reported on political claims surrounding casino activity in India’s Andhra Pradesh state. An opposition spokesperson alleged that illegal online casinos are operating openly in the region, with claims of political protection emerging at a particularly sensitive time for the state government.