Online betting has exploded in India, thanks to smartphones and social media. Millions of Indians see flashy ads every day promising easy winnings from cricket or card games. Young people are especially targeted, with catchy slogans and celebrity endorsements making betting look fun and harmless.
In reality, these apps and websites are unregulated and risky. What starts as a few small bets can turn into big losses, and many players don’t realise just how dangerous it can be.
Why Betting Ads Are Everywhere
No matter where you look online, betting ads are there. On YouTube videos, Instagram reels, WhatsApp groups, and even TV commercials, you see promotions for betting and fantasy gaming. The reason is that enforcement against ads has been slow.
Many overseas companies use digital marketing tricks, paying influencers to promote betting or buying ad space on foreign websites quietly, to bypass India’s ban. Regulators have indeed flagged thousands of illegal betting ads, but the internet is vast, and ads keep spreading.
The Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) reports that over 4,500 betting ads were flagged in just six months recently. They’ve sent these lists to the government for action, but many ads slip through social media algorithms.
Television and internet channels are supposed to include disclaimers about betting risks, and the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting has warned broadcasters not to glamorise gambling. Still, influencers continue to share sponsored posts, and offshore sites exploit loopholes.
Are These Betting Apps And Sites Safe?
Despite their glamorous ads, online betting platforms are not safe. Many of these apps operate from outside India, with no oversight by Indian authorities. That means if something goes wrong, like a game is rigged or the app suddenly shuts down, there is no watchdog to help you.
Users have reported apps that refuse to pay out winnings or suddenly change rules to favour the house. Since these platforms are often illegal, they have no reason to protect your money or data.
Another safety worry is data security. To play, apps usually ask for personal information: phone numbers, PAN or Aadhaar numbers, bank details, UPI IDs, and more. If the site is a scam, this data can be misused.
For example, there have been cases where illicit betting apps turned out to be fronts for fraud: they collected KYC details or payment info and vanished, leaving users vulnerable to identity theft.
In short, downloading a betting app is like dealing with an unlicensed stranger; it can cost you your privacy and your money.
The Legal Minefield For Players
Most forms of gambling and betting are illegal in India, and online betting is no exception. The law around games of skill (like rummy or fantasy sports) vs. games of chance (like casino games) has always been blurry. In recent years, court rulings have said games of skill are allowed, but new laws are changing that.
In 2025, Parliament passed a sweeping law that bans all online real-money gaming across India, whether it’s skill or chance. This means that even if you think you’re playing a “skill game,” the new law could still treat it as illegal betting.
So what does this mean for you if you play? Technically, using an online betting app could land you in legal trouble. Indian law now considers unauthorised betting a crime. For example, the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita says “unauthorised betting” can mean at least 1 year in jail and a fine.
Courts have even hinted at up to 7 years in prison for running such games. (While these harsh penalties mostly target operators, players could also be summoned for questioning or face bank freezes).
The government and courts are taking this seriously: police have launched cyber-fraud investigations into betting rings, and some players have had their bank accounts flagged by money-laundering squads.
In short, playing real-money games online is legally very risky; it could bring you under the gaze of the police or tax authorities with serious consequences.
Banned And Flagged Betting Apps
Authorities have already blocked and banned hundreds of betting apps and websites. Some were big international names like 1xBet, Betway, Parimatch, Dafabet, and Fairplay, which were officially identified as illegal.
1xBet and Betway, for example, were added to government “blocked” lists in late 2023. Even sports and poker sites have been targeted: apps like PokerStars and SuperDraft were banned for violating laws on fantasy sports. In all, by 2023-2024, more than 500 gambling and betting apps were taken down in India.
Indian regulators have also flagged lesser-known operators. For instance, tax authorities told Google to remove six sites, MGM91, Shakunimama, Khelomama, 247majestic, Redgames1, and Karabet, because they were taking rupee deposits for casino games without paying taxes.
Many of the banned apps were using proxies like UPI and digital wallets to accept money. Behind the scenes, agencies like the Enforcement Directorate have seized bank accounts linked to betting.
A famous case involved the “Mahadev” betting ring, where dozens of people were arrested under anti-gangster laws. All these crackdowns mean that if an app is on the banned list, you cannot legally use it in India. Any use puts you in violation of the law.
Who Is Still In The Game?
Not every gaming app is banned. Some companies continue operating by focusing on “games of skill” or by changing their business models. The most famous are the fantasy sports apps: Dream11, MPL (Mobile Premier League), Games24x7’s My11Circle, RummyCulture, and a few poker sites like Adda52.
These platforms insist that players win based on skill, choosing teams or strategies, not pure luck. Right now, they’re allowed to keep running tournaments because they say skill is involved.
However, many have paused real-money play just in case. For example, after the ban news, some of these apps announced that existing deposits in user wallets would be safe and withdrawable, but new paid contests were temporarily halted.
There are also free versions of games, where you play with no real money or compete for gift prizes instead of cash. Companies have rolled out these models so they technically stay legal while courts sort out the new law. Offshore or crypto betting sites (like Stake.com or 4rabet) try to stay open by skirting rules, but they are operating illegally.
Major domestic gaming platforms with clear documentation and tax records are still around, usually by sticking to skill-based formats. Shady offshore bookmakers that refuse to comply with Indian regulations are being chased out, but they sometimes reappear under new names.
Different Rules In Different States
India’s gambling laws vary from state to state, adding to the confusion. The Indian Constitution gives states the right to regulate gambling. So some states have legalised certain games or casinos, while others ban them outright.
For example, Goa, Daman & Diu, and Sikkim allow licensed casinos (both land-based and some online). Nagaland issues permits for skill games like poker. On the other hand, Gujarat and Bihar have very strict bans on all gambling. Kerala allows traditional games like rummy but has warned youth against online play.
Two large states went further: Tamil Nadu passed a law (2022) banning all online gambling and even games like rummy as a precaution against addiction. Karnataka tried a similar ban.
However, both state bans were overturned by courts for being too broad; the judges said they couldn’t ban games of skill. This means that for now, in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, online skill games are technically allowed (unless caught under the new federal ban).
For an ordinary player, this patchwork means you could be on solid legal ground in one state but in trouble in another. The federal government argues that online gaming affects people nationwide, so it passed a new law to apply across India.
Until the Supreme Court settles these disputes, the legality depends on both the new national rules and your state’s laws, which is a confusing mix for anyone just trying to play a game.
Also Read: Why Has The Govt Placed A Ban On 174 Betting And Gambling Apps?
Addiction, Fraud, And Financial Loss
Beyond legality, the human cost of online betting can be severe. These platforms are designed to be addictive, offering small wins early to hook you, then gradually taking more money. Players have shared stories of waking up at 3 am, unable to stop betting, and families ruined by debt.
Because the losses are real money, people often feel desperate to recover what they lost, which leads to even riskier bets. Experts and even the government warn that gambling addiction can lead to anxiety, depression, and even thoughts of suicide if someone loses big. It’s not just a game; it can destroy lives.
Fraud is rampant, too. Illegal betting apps may blatantly cheat. For example, an app might let you win a few hands and then start cancelling your winning streak or changing the payout without notice. Worse, users have reported apps that refuse to return deposits or winnings, especially once the app gets too big to care. And if the app is illegal, you have no protection.
Victims cannot go to a consumer court or get refunds through law enforcement, because “you were breaking the law too.” Even worse, some users risk data theft. If an app asks for Aadhaar or bank details and then disappears, your sensitive information could be misused by criminals. All this means one wrong move on a betting site can cost you a lot more than just money.
To sum up, what seems like a quick chance to win can spiral into hopeless financial loss, ruined credit ratings, and severe emotional stress. If you or someone you know is playing these games, it’s important to realise there is no safety net. Once the money is gone, it’s usually gone for good, and there’s no official help to recover it.
Latest Crackdown And Government Actions
In response to all these issues, the Indian government has been moving quickly. Early in 2023, it started blocking hundreds of offshore gambling websites and apps. By early 2025, the IT ministry had issued over 1,400 blocking orders against betting sites.
Tax rules were also tightened: from October 2023, any online gaming operator must register under the new GST laws and pay 28% tax on bets. New income tax rules now take 30% of your net winnings. Any company not complying can be legally shut out of the country. These steps targeted the money trail of online betting and made it much harder for illegal sites to function.
The big change came in August 2025 with the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act. This central law bans all real-money online games nationwide. It specifically outlaws accepting bets over the internet.
The Supreme Court is now hearing challenges to this Act by gaming firms, while other petitions urge the court to ban what little is left of online gambling. Early court signals suggest that purely skill-based tournaments (like chess or some fantasy contests) might be allowed under certain conditions, but everything money-based faces a complete ban.
Meanwhile, regulators are cracking down on advertising. The telecom ministry and broadcasters have been told to pull or block gambling ads. TV channels must display warnings if they air any gaming commercials.
The Advertising Standards Council has even imposed rules that betting ads need a visible disclaimer about addiction and risk. On the law enforcement side, cyber police and financial crime units are investigating and seizing assets in high-profile betting fraud cases.
For example, raids were held on bookies and apps that laundered money via fake UPI accounts. In short, every branch of government, from ministries to the courts to local police, is aligning against online betting. The era of easy online betting is ending.
Online betting in India may seem widespread and tempting, but it’s a dangerous gamble in more ways than one. The platforms and ads make it look harmless, but the truth is that most of these games are illegal and unsafe.
Playing them could lead to financial loss, legal trouble, or worse, with no guarantees or protections. The government is already closing the door: sites are being blocked, taxes hiked, and new laws passed to outlaw money gambling.
For the ordinary person, the best approach is simple: avoid these risky apps altogether. If you enjoy games like fantasy sports or poker, stick to reputable platforms that follow the rules (or only free-play modes with no cash at stake).
Be sceptical of any offer that seems too good to be true, and never share your personal or financial details on a betting site. Remember that authorities are increasing penalties and enforcement every day. In the end, there is no sure bet in these illicit games, and countless stories of loss and regret show why caution is so important.
Images: Google Images
Sources: Live Mint, The Economic Times, The Times of India
Find the blogger: Katyayani Joshi
This post is tagged under: online betting in india, online gaming risks, digital safety india, cyber safety awareness, financial fraud india, gambling awareness, youth safety online, cybercrime india, online scam prevention, internet safety tips, responsible gaming india, ad regulation india, consumer protection india, tech awareness, digital literacy india
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