8,750 Illegal Betting Platforms Blocked - Karnataka Cyber Command & I4C, MHA Executes One of India’s Largest Anti-Online Betting Operations
In a decisive regulatory shift, the Government of India brought the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Rules, 2026 into force on 1 May 2026, effectively imposing a nationwide blanket ban on all forms of real-money online gaming. Enacted through the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025 (passed by Parliament in August 2025), the law prohibits any online game, whether skill-based or chance-based, that involves deposits, entry fees, or monetary winnings.
Massive Online Betting Crackdown
Bengaluru, 2 June 2026, In one of the most extensive crackdowns on illegal online betting in the country, the Karnataka State Cyber Command, working in active coordination with the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), has successfully targeted and disrupted a massive network of approximately 8,750 betting websites, mobile applications, and fraudulent betting URLs.
Specialized cyber teams, acting on credible intelligence, conducted coordinated online investigations that uncovered organized groups running illegal cricket betting platforms. These platforms operated through mirror domains, sub-domains, and cloned URLs to evade detection and blocking. A case has been registered as Cr. No. 2/2026 under Sections 66C and 66D of the Information Technology Act, 2000, along with Sections 318(4) and 319(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023. Investigation is actively in progress.
Impact on Victims
The illegal betting networks have caused widespread harm. Thousands of citizens have suffered heavy financial losses, data compromises, mental harassment, and debt-driven distress. Many vulnerable individuals were pushed into penury after losing their life savings on credit-based betting systems.
Operational Procedures and Investigations
This decisive operation has prevented substantial losses to individuals and has significantly disrupted the illegal betting ecosystem across the country. Further legal action has been initiated under relevant sections of the IT Act and BNS. Advanced technical investigation, including financial tracking of money invested in betting and identification of the operators behind these platforms, is underway.
Such large-scale blocking of betting websites, applications, and associated URLs is frequently facilitated through the Sahyog portal of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). Developed by I4C, the Sahyog portal provides a centralized mechanism for authorized agencies to issue authenticated blocking and takedown directives to internet service providers and digital intermediaries under the Information Technology Act framework, enabling swift and coordinated enforcement against unlawful online content.
Official Commitment
The Karnataka State Cyber Command has reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to protecting citizens from cyber-enabled crimes and ensuring a safe digital ecosystem. The Command has expressed profound gratitude to the dedicated and skilled staff of I4C for their unstinting support in this endeavour.
(Based on the official Press Note issued by the Karnataka State Cyber Command, Bengaluru, and signed by Dr. Pronab Mohanty, IPS, Director General of Police, Cyber Command, Bengaluru)
This operation underscores the growing effectiveness of coordinated national and state-level cyber policing in tackling organized online gambling syndicates that exploit technology to target citizens.
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