Online gambling applications have continued to grow at an alarming rate, with many users having access to smartphones and digital payment systems. Unfortunately, for much of this activity, many of these applications are operating illegally in India’s market with no valid licenses.

Recently, the Government of India has blocked many offshore betting applications under its Information Technology Act. It was due to illegal gambling, money laundering, consumer fraud, and data security risks associated with these applications.

As a result, people are asking frequently, such as “What betting applications are illegal within India?” or “Is the gaming application 4RaBet illegal?” or simply “what are banned betting apps in India?” etc., because they are concerned for their investments.

What Are Betting Apps?

Betting applications are internet-based software that enable users to put real money on sporting events and are linked to an online bookmaker, land-based casinos, card games, and the results of predicted events. Either a computer or a mobile device can access betting apps.

Popular types of betting on these apps include cricket, football, live casino games, poker, slot games, and event-based predictions.

Typically, betting apps allow users to deposit money online, choose an outcome (most commonly a match outcome or player performance), and place wagers with money they have deposited. It generates revenue from either a commission or the margin charged on the amount of wagers that the user makes.

To market their betting services, like in cricket betting, apps provide features such as live, in-play betting, instant cash-outs, bonuses, free play, and rewards for referring new customers.

Currently, numerous betting apps in India operate from offshore jurisdictions without the necessary licenses or regulatory approvals to operate legally in India.

List of Banned Betting Apps in India (2026)

The Indian government lacks a single, central, official document with an up-to-date master list of all betting apps prohibited in India. ISPs often receive confidential blocking orders under Section 69A of the IT Act, which they then use to block the platforms. Blocked platforms often change domains regularly.

List of Banned Betting Apps in India

App Name	Status in 2026	Type	Reason for Restriction
1xBet	Blocked / Restricted	Sports Betting	Offshore gambling operations
Parimatch	Blocked / Restricted	Sports & Casino	Unlicensed betting services
Betway	Blocked / Restricted	Sports Betting	Real-money gambling
Melbet	Blocked / Restricted	Sports Betting	Regulatory non-compliance
Fairplay	Blocked	Sports Betting	Illegal wagering promotion
Fun88	Blocked	Casino & Betting	Gambling operations
4rabet	Reported Restricted	Sports Betting	Offshore bookmaker
Betfair	Restricted	Betting Exchange	Real-money gambling
Dafabet	Restricted	Sports & Casino	Non-licensed operations
Bwin	Restricted	Sports Betting	Unregulated betting

What Should I Use Instead Of Banned Betting Apps?

As betting apps are banned in India, do not attempt to get around by using a mirror website or a VPN service instead. Search for regulated, legal, or skill-based alternatives that comply with Indian law.

Below are some platforms that commonly get mentioned, but always make sure to verify their legality before use:

Polymarket

Polymarket is a predictive market trading system based on the blockchain that allows its users to bet on future events that happen in the real world. Polymarket is not necessarily a typical sports betting site and is a decentralized predictive marketplace.

However, it is important to point out that Polymarket does not have any specific licence for Indian users, so it is uncertain what the specific legality would be if you are an Indian citizen participating on Polymarket. Before betting on an event’s outcome, check that you can follow the law.

Kalshi

Kalshi is a regulated trading marketplace in the US and overseen by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). Kalshi is a legal predictive market in the US.

Kalshi does not have any regulatory license in India, so it is your responsibility to check whether participating in it complies with Indian law before doing so.

Alternative Options for Safety

Rather than utilizing gambling apps that require payment in real-life money, you may be able to use the following:

• Skill-based fantasy sport apps (if legal to do so according to your local jurisdiction)
• Stock trading apps that are regulated by SEBI
• Gaming apps that operate under Indian law
• Skill-based esports tournaments
• Non-cash wagering apps

If you use an illegal foreign gambling service, you may experience:

• Loss of funds
• Lack of protection under the law
• Potential privacy violations
• Issues with available payment methods

Opting for compliant services is much less problematic than attempting to find a way to illegally access an out-of-the-country gambling service.

Why Are Betting Apps Banned in India?

The Indian government prohibits the use of betting apps because illegal or unregulated forms of online wagering often occur within the country. The main regulation regarding gambling is the Public Gambling Act (1867), and although some states may have different forms of regulation, they all generally retain similar restrictions on gambling involving the chance to win real money.

Since all forms of online betting are considered gambling in many Indian states, most of them will be illegal throughout the country.

Another reason illegal betting apps are banned in India is due to the absence of any type of regulatory oversight. Many of these sites target the citizens of India, but they do not maintain any type of reporting, licensing, or consumer protection property rights that would allow you to recover from problems associated with using them.

As a result, users may encounter things such as financial fraud, problems with withdrawals, identity theft, or misuse of their data while using an offshore betting site.

There are still currently ongoing enforcement actions against offshore sports betting sites as well as mirror domains that are operating without compliance. Therefore, each user of these sites should verify whether the site is legal to operate a real money betting operation before wagering on the site.

What Do the New Gambling Rules Say?

In 2025, the Indian Parliament enacted the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act. This was the country’s first comprehensive central law specifically regulating digital gaming. Under this law, any online game where a player posts money or its equivalent and expects monetary returns is classified as an “online money game.”

This is prohibited nationwide, regardless of whether the game is labelled as skill-based or chance-based. The ban applies uniformly across India. It replaces the earlier patchwork of state laws and court interpretations that distinguished between “skill” and “chance” for real money games.

Companies are also cautioned to prohibit their services (such as credit card processors, payment gateway companies, etc.) from supporting a non-compliant betting business.

All levels of government continued to provide regulatory advisories on topics such as consumer protection, data protection, and the prevention of money laundering. The government strictly enforces the legal environment for real-money online betting platforms that lack proper Indian authorization.

Is 4Rabet Prohibited in India?

4Rabet has been identified as unregulated under the law and has been banned in India since 2026. It operates as an offshore gambling website that provides sports betting and wagering services. These services lack an authorized license issued by any gambling authority in India and primarily involve bets on games of chance in most states.

The Indian central government has taken action against many of the top unregulated gambling sites under the Information Technology Act, 2000. As a result, these sites have been blocked at the ISP level, making it impossible for users to access the 4rabet gambling platform from India.

Additionally, there are no provisions under Indian law for users to recover funds from the gambling sites since they are operated without being regulated by an Indian gambling authority.

Users should exercise caution before using any real-money online gambling website. It is essential to verify each site’s status and understand the financial and legal risks associated with these platforms.

Risks of Using Banned Betting Apps

The serious dangers associated with using banned betting apps in India include financial, legal, and security risks. Lack of regulation means no one is protecting the user’s legal rights in case of disputes. If problems occur, such as delayed withdrawals, frozen accounts, or the sudden closing of a platform, getting funds back is very hard to do.

Another serious risk concerning offshore gambling applications is privacy. Most offshore sites do not follow Indian data privacy regulations, increasing the risk of identity theft, fraud, and improper use of personal data. In addition to payment information being compromised, there is also a risk that KYC documents will be used by third parties.

Moreover, gambling apps that are not legal in India could also be breaking your state’s gambling laws. If you connect to illegal sites via mirror sites or a VPN, the consequences could compound your legal issues.

There is currently no regulatory authority, consumer court or grievance process set up in India for users of illegal betting apps, nor is there a process to recover their funds if they are defrauded. Always choose legal and compliant platforms over illegal betting applications.

Conclusion

Online gambling bans in India are tightening as authorities enforce stricter 2026 regulations. Many real-money betting platforms operate offshore without Indian licenses, leading to frequent site blocks and ongoing investigations.

Using unregulated providers exposes players to financial, legal, and cybersecurity risks. To stay protected, users should monitor regulatory updates and avoid unauthorized platforms in this evolving digital landscape.