India's Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued an order on February 5 directing the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) to ban and block 232 apps that either originate in China or have links to China, according to Inc421. The list comprises 138 betting apps and 94 online lending apps1.
Sources told the publication that the apps were flouting Section 69 of the IT Act, and senior ministry officials said the apps contained material purportedly a threat to the sovereignty and integrity of the country1. The banned betting apps include Betway, 1xBet, Parimatch, 22Bet, Lotus 365, DAFABET, Fun88, MostBet, MELBET, PokerStars and Betfair Live Line, among others1.
"In an order issued on February 5, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) directed the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) to ban and block as many as 232 apps that either originate or have links to China"
The report said the betting websites operate without oversight and are based outside India, making it difficult to prosecute the companies in a legal case, and that many operate under the guise of sports blogs and use surrogate methods to attract users1. It also said many Chinese nationals allegedly operated multiple entities in connivance with Indians to run fraudulent online gaming platforms, and that proceeds were used to launder money across the border1.
The February 5 order follows earlier rounds of app bans. The first ban of 59 apps came in June 2020, affecting TikTok, ShareIt and UC Browser, and multiple later bans covered as many as 320 Chinese apps1. Counting the current 232, the total now stands at 552, the report said1. It also followed a government direction to Google to stop displaying ads from overseas online betting companies, and an earlier request to broadcasters and streaming services not to air online betting ads1.
| Round | Apps affected |
|---|---|
| June 2020 (first ban) | 59 |
| Later bans (cumulative, including the first 59) | 320 |
| February 5, 2023 order | 232 |
| Running total | 552 |
What it means for players
The order targets app distribution and access, not the underlying law on betting in India. Players in India who used any of the listed apps, including well-known international brands such as Betway, 1xBet and Parimatch, face the prospect of those apps being removed or blocked, though the report does not say how quickly or by what technical method the blocks would take effect. The report notes that the apps are based outside India and operate without oversight, which it says makes prosecution difficult in a legal case. It does not state what happens to money already held in accounts on the banned platforms, and that has not been reported. For background on how blocks work in the region, see why betting sites get blocked in Asia, and for the legal position in the country, see Can I Gamble in India? and online cricket IDs and betting exchanges.
What happens next
The order directs MeitY to ban and block the apps1. No timeline for the blocks, and no further steps, have been reported.
