Crackdown on Online Gambling! Over 1,000 Websites Banned

Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw informed the Lok Sabha on Wednesday that India has made “significant improvement” in combating online gambling and betting, with 1,097 websites banned in 2024 alone.

Responding to concerns raised during Question Hour, Vaishnaw emphasized the need for coordinated efforts between the Centre and states to address the growing menace of illegal online gaming, which has drawn scrutiny for its impact on youth.

The minister highlighted that the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), designated as the nodal agency for online gaming in 2022, has ramped up enforcement under the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.

“Whenever violations are flagged, we act within the Constitutional framework,” Vaishnaw assured, citing collaboration with cybercrime agencies as key to the progress. This builds on prior efforts, with 692 blocking orders issued between 2022 and 2024, per December 2024 Lok Sabha data.

Members of Parliament voiced alarm over online gambling’s addictive lure and the violent content in some games, linking them to financial ruin and mental health issues among young people. Vaishnaw acknowledged these concerns, noting that the government is crafting a robust legal framework to regulate the sector. Since 2023, he has advocated for a strict central law, given the digital world’s borderless nature, despite gambling being a state subject under the Constitution.

The 2024 bans reflect a crackdown on offshore and illegal platforms, often backed by foreign investments, which evade state laws. With India’s online gaming market projected to hit $5 billion by 2025, per a 2021 BCG report, Vaishnaw’s update signals a proactive shift. Yet, as debates persist over skill versus chance classifications, the path to a cohesive policy remains complex.