Gaming industry flags offshore betting threat

GOVT SET TO NOTIFY FINAL ONLINE GAMING NORMS SOON

- OJASVI GUPTA

INDUSTRY BODIES AND gaming companies have highlighted concerns over the rapid rise of offshore betting platforms targeting Indian users, as the government prepares to notify the final Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Rules, 2025, in a few weeks.

Executives told FE that the new framework is critical to restoring regulatory balance after large numbers of users migrated to overseas platforms following last year’s ban on domestic real money games.

According to people familiar with the matter, the rules are expected to sharpen enforcement against offshore betting and money gaming platforms that operate or monetise services in India while remaining beyond the reach of domestic law. A government official said around 2,500 offshore real-money gaming platforms have already been blocked. These platforms are typically based outside India but are accessible to domestic users.