Centre Weighs Action Against Prediction Market Apps Amid Rise In Election, IPL Betting

Last Updated:April 22, 2026, 23:41 IST

IT secretary S Krishnan said on Wednesday that the government has been tracking instances where such betting platforms are being accessed by Indian users

The Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeiTY) is examining potential action against offshore prediction market platforms such as Kalshi and Polymarket, amid a surge in their use for betting on election outcomes, sporting events like IPL, and other similar developments.

Speaking on the issue, IT secretary S Krishnan said on Wednesday that the government has been tracking instances where such platforms are being accessed by Indian users, despite existing restrictions.

The government on Wednesday notified the rules of the Online Gaming Act, which will come into effect from May 1, 2026. “The government has taken action whenever such reports have come to us," he said, adding that these platforms fall foul of India’s online gaming regulations.

Notably, Kalshi and Polymarket are banned under the current legal framework on online gaming. However, these apps are still being accessed through virtual private networks (VPNs).

“Access through VPNs is a slightly tricky issue, and we are examining how we can intervene," Krishnan said. ““The problem is that there are many legitimate users of VPNs. How do you distinguish between the legitimate and the illegitimate users is the big question."

“It’s a bit of a whack-a-mole situation," the secretary remarked. He also underscored that if foreign platforms are offering services in India and it is brought to the ministry’s notice, action can be taken as the Online Gaming Act has extra-territorial jurisdiction.

The government has notified rules under the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025. A key feature of the rules is that registration for online social games has been made voluntary.

News india Centre Weighs Action Against Prediction Market Apps Amid Rise In Election, IPL Betting

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