India Blocks 300 Websites in Black Market Operation

(AsiaGameHub) –   India’s government has ongoing efforts to fight the nation’s black market, blocking around 300 websites that promote illegal gambling and betting.

Per the Economic Times, online sports betting sites, casino applications, and betting exchanges were among the platforms hit by the government’s move.

The government has acted against more than 8,400 websites and mobile apps, reporting that it has blocked 4,900 since the Promotion and Regulations of Online Gaming Bill 2025 was passed in August 2025.

The choice to implement such severe measures stemmed from worries about the sector’s societal effects. But the rapid passage of the bill surprised many in the industry.

In the days and weeks following the landmark ruling, major local operators including Dream11 and the Mobile Premier League, along with international companies like Flutter, had to pull their RMG operations.

For Flutter specifically, the company later disclosed that the ruling resulted in a $556 million impairment charge tied to removing its Junglee product from India, plus a substantial hit to future revenue.

After the decision, Flutter expressed worries that the ruling would drive players to the black market, and recent data from the All India Gaming Federation has shown the persistent demand for gaming among India’s people.

The organization’s report found that unlicensed betting platforms got more than 1.6 billion visits in a three-month period.

While Indian authorities have taken steps to block access to these sites, the latest data shows that these efforts aren’t achieving the intended result. Notably, illegal operators are using mirror websites to help users bypass blocking rules.

Researchers proposed that creating a resource that lists legal and illegal platforms might be an effective method to help players better understand if they’ve ended up on the black market.

“These lists should be regularly updated and, when feasible, made publicly available in a user-friendly format so consumers can easily tell the difference between legitimate and illegal operators,” the report added.

iGaming Expert Analysis: The striking numbers highlight that the Indian government’s severe and sudden regulatory steps last year have opened the door for the black market. Considering the market’s size and the adaptability of unlicensed operators, this will be a difficult and long-fought battle for the government.