India intensifies crackdown on offshore gambling by blocking thousands of websites
The Indian government has launched a widespread campaign against illegal online gambling, blocking over 8,000 URLs by the end of March 2026. This initiative aims to curb the influence of offshore gambling platforms, which remain highly popular among the country’s population despite the bans.
According to India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, a record 8,376 websites were blocked, yet user engagement with illegal platforms has grown. In Delhi, for example, the share of users visiting banned sites increased from 68% to 82%, while daily player activity rose from 3.4% to 42.3%.
Users quickly adapt by switching to mirror sites and utilizing domestic payment systems such as UPI, enabling them to bypass key restrictions. Experts estimate the turnover of India’s offshore gambling market at roughly $20 billion.
India's Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology is actively combating offshore online gambling, aiming to limit unregulated financial flows. Despite strict measures, technological and financial tools enable gamblers to circumvent restrictions.
This ongoing conflict highlights the challenges governments face in regulating digital markets. It is expected that regulatory measures will continue to strengthen, while users will persist in seeking new ways to access offshore platforms, creating a complex regulatory environment.
