MeitY Blocks 7,800 Websites, But Offshore Betting Thrives in India

• MeitY has blocked over 7,800 illegal betting and gambling websites, including 242 recent actions, yet offshore platforms continue to see rising traffic and user engagement from India.
• Despite blocks, notorious offshore betting companies like 1xbet, Parimatch, Stake, and Fairplay expand their Indian user base through mirror websites, VPNs, and aggressive digital promotion.
• Traffic data shows mirrored 1xbet and Parimatch sites attracting hundreds of thousands of monthly visits from India; India contributes significantly to global traffic for Stake (13.48%) and Fairplay (88.09%).
• Legal experts and industry bodies highlight a regulatory vacuum, with the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025 (PROGA) not yet in force, making enforcement a 'whack-a-mole' situation.
• A CUTS International survey reveals that India's ban on online real money games led to a sharp migration of users to offshore betting platforms, with increased spending and daily engagement post-ban.

Why It Matters: Despite extensive website blocks, offshore betting platforms continue to flourish in India due to weak enforcement and regulatory gaps.