The Indian government has now banned many betting apps that were working illegally in our country.
You need to know the difference between games where your cricket knowledge helps you win (like fantasy sports) and games where it’s just luck (like casino games).
This article will tell you which apps are banned, why they got banned, and what safe options you have in 2025.
Why Betting Apps Got Banned In India?
Online betting apps became very popular in India in the last few years. When IPL cricket started and fantasy sports grew big, millions of Indians began using these apps to try and win money.
But many of these apps were not safe or legal to use. Here are the main reasons why betting apps got banned in India:
1. No Permission from Government: Many apps work without asking the government first. They don’t have the papers they need to run betting in India.
2. Cheating with Money: Some apps steal your money or don’t give you your winnings. They use fake ways to take and give money.
3. Not Paying Taxes: These apps often don’t pay taxes to the Indian government, which is against the law.
4. Your Information is Not Safe: Your phone number, bank details, and ID cards are not protected with these apps.
5. Kids Can Play: Many banned apps don’t check if you’re 18 or older, so even children can gamble.
6. Moving Money Illegally: They use illegal ways to bring money in and out of India, which breaks money transfer laws.
The Online Gaming Act, 2025, has created a clear separation between illegal gambling and legal gaming.
Government Action Against Betting Apps: 2023–2025 Crackdown
The Indian government took strong action against illegal betting apps. Many departments are working together to stop these apps:
- Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY): They block websites and apps
- Enforcement Directorate (ED): They catch financial crimes
- Tax Department: They check if apps are paying taxes properly
The government uses these laws to ban apps:
- IT Act (to block websites)
- Public Gambling Act, 1867 (India’s main law against gambling)
- Foreign Exchange Law (for illegal money transfers)
Major Legal Update: Online Gaming Act, 2025
This is the biggest change you need to know. The Indian government made a new law called the Online Gaming Act, 2025. This law completely changed how online gaming works in India.
Here’s what this new law does:
- Stops All Money Games: If you put money to win money, it’s now illegal. Doesn’t matter if it needs skill or just luck.
- No More Ads: You won’t see betting app ads on TV, Facebook, or anywhere else.
- Stops Bank Payments: Banks, UPI, and credit cards cannot help betting apps take or give money.
- Strict Punishment: If you break this law, you could go to jail for 3 years and pay big fines.
Here’s how this law changed different apps:
| App Type | Before 2025 | After Online Gaming Act, 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Banned Betting Apps | You could put money to win money | Completely blocked and illegal |
| Fantasy/Card Apps | You paid to enter contests | Only free games, win gifts not money |
| Illegal Foreign Apps | New apps came every month | Government finds and blocks them fast |
| Legal Free Games | Free contests with prizes | Still okay and safe to use |
The good news is that esports (playing games competitively without betting money) is now clearly legal and different from gambling.
Banned Betting Apps In India (2025)
Based on what the government officially said and did, here’s the complete list of betting apps that are banned in India.
| App Name | Ban Year | Why It Got Banned |
|---|---|---|
| Mahadev Book | 2023 | No license, illegal gambling |
| Fairplay | 2023 | Broke gambling laws |
| Reddy Anna | 2023 | No rules, money problems |
| Lotus365 | 2023 | Cheated in games, misused data |
| SkyExchange | 2023 | Used foreign servers |
| Betway | 2023 | No Indian permission, risky payments |
| 1xBet | 2023 | Foreign company, didn’t follow rules |
| Parimatch | 2023 | No license, tax problems |
| World777 | 2023 | Illegal money activity |
| Kheloyar | 2023 | Illegal betting, no ID check |
| Gold365 | 2023 | Broke money laws |
| MELBET | 2023 | Worked without permission |
| BetBook247 | 2023 | Didn’t follow laws |
| Wolf777 | 2023 | No complaint system, people got cheated |
| Winaura | 2025 | Gambling without permission |
| Winstler42 | 2025 | Broke gaming rules |
| Casinohermes | 2025 | Gambling without rules |
| Amunra1 | 2025 | Gambling without license |
| Polymarket | 2025 | Didn’t follow money rules |
| Betindi | 2023 | Promoted illegal betting |
| AndarBahar Poker | 2023 | Promoted illegal gambling |
| Silver Luck | 2023 | Casino games without rules |
| Fun88 | 2023 | Worked without license |
| PokerStars | 2023 | Broke Indian gambling laws |
| BetM | 2023 | Broke local laws, suspected money washing |
These apps are completely blocked in India. If you use them, you could get in serious legal trouble.
How Illegal Betting Apps Still Try To Work?
Even though many apps are banned, some still try to work illegally. Here’s how they do it and why you should stay away:
- Use Other Countries: They run from other countries to avoid Indian laws.
- Digital Money: They use Bitcoin and other digital coins to hide money transfers.
- Fake Payment Apps: They make fake UPI accounts to trick the system.
- WhatsApp and Telegram Sharing: Instead of the Google Play Store, they share app files through messaging apps.
Tricky Methods: They use many tricks to trap you:
- Give you too-good-to-be-true bonuses and cashback
- Let you win first few times to make you put more money
- No proper help when you have problems
- Change game rules so you lose more often
- Keep sending messages to make you play more
Risks Of Using Banned/Illegal Apps
If you use banned betting apps, you’re putting yourself in serious danger:
1. Loss of Money: Many people say they lost all their money and couldn’t get it back. These apps often block your account when you try to take out your winnings.
2. Identity theft: Your personal details, like Aadhaar, PAN, and bank info, can be stolen and misused.
3. Data Stealing: Your phone contacts, photos, and other private things might be taken without you knowing.
4. Mental Health Problems: Gambling addiction can make you very sad, worried, and even think about harming yourself.
5. No Legal Help: Since these apps are illegal, you can’t complain anywhere or get your money back if something goes wrong.
6. Legal Trouble: You could get in trouble with the police for using illegal gambling apps.
Safer Legal Alternatives
The good news is there are still legal ways for you to enjoy gaming in India. After the Online Gaming Act, 2025, these apps changed how they work to stay legal:
| App Name | Status After 2025 | What Games You Can Play |
|---|---|---|
| Dream11 | Legal (only free games) | Fantasy cricket (no money) |
| My11Circle | Legal (only free games) | Fantasy cricket (no money) |
| MPL | Legal (only free games) | Fantasy, esports (free) |
| Gamezy | Legal (only free games) | Fantasy (free) |
| Fantasy Akhada | Legal ( was always free) | Fantasy (free) |
| Vision11 | Legal (only free games) | Fantasy (win gifts, not money) |
| PlayerzPot | Legal (only free games) | Fantasy (win vouchers) |
These apps now have free games where you can win prizes like phones, gift cards, t-shirts, and other things (not money). You don’t pay anything to play, so they’re completely legal and safe.
How To Stay Safe While Gaming Online?
Here are simple tips to protect yourself:
1. Check if the App is Real: Only download apps from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store. Don’t get apps from WhatsApp or Telegram.
2. Make Sure App Has Permission: Check that the app has government permission to work in India.
3. Read the Rules: Understand what you’re agreeing to before using any gaming app.
4. Don’t Share Personal Details: Be careful about sharing your Aadhaar, PAN, or bank details unless you’re sure the app is real.
5. Don’t Spend Too Much: Even with legal apps, don’t spend more money than you can afford to lose.
6. Watch for Warning Signs: If an app promises you will definitely win or asks you to bring friends for bonuses, it’s probably fake.
Pro tip: Save screenshots of your payments and messages in case you need them later.
Related Reads:
Conclusion: India Chooses Safety Over Risky Betting
Banning betting apps in India shows that the government wants to protect people from losing money and having mental health problems because of illegal gambling.
This might seem strict, but it’s actually making gaming safer and better for everyone.
The new Online Gaming Act, 2025, has ended the time of money-betting apps in India. But it has also created exciting chances for esports and free gaming apps that focus on skill, fun, and community instead of gambling.
Stay away from banned betting apps and try the legal ones available. Remember, the best bet is not to bet money on illegal apps.
FAQs
Big banned betting apps include Betway, 1xBet, Parimatch, MELBET, Mahadev Book, and many others in this article. The complete list has more than 25 apps banned from 2023 to 2025.
While Stake isn’t specifically mentioned in official ban lists, any app that lets you bet money without proper Indian permission is illegal under the Online Gaming Act, 2025.
Online betting is mostly illegal in India. The Online Gaming Act, 2025, stops all money-based gaming, whether it needs skill or just luck. Only free games with non-monetary prizes are legal.
No money-betting apps are legally working in India. But free fantasy apps like Dream11, My11Circle, and MPL still work legally with non-money prizes.
Dream11 is legal in India, but only in its new free format. They don’t offer money contests or paid entries anymore. Instead, they have free games with prizes like phones and vouchers.
Under the Online Gaming Act, 2025, if you break the law, you could go to jail for up to 3 years and pay big fines. How much punishment depends on what exactly you did wrong.
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