Lok Sabha Question No. 542 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-23
Subject: Offshore Online Gaming Platforms
Ministry: ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Shri Krishna Prasad Tenneti

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 542

TO BE ANSWERED ON: 23.07.2025

## OFFSHORE ONLINE GAMING PLATFORMS

## 542. SHRI KRISHNA PRASAD TENNETI:

Will the Minister of ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government has taken note of the growing presence of offshore online gaming platforms operating without adhering to Indian tax and regulatory norms as opposed to legal skill gaming companies;

- (b) if so, the list of such platforms identified and blocked during the last five years across the country, State-wise;
- (c) whether the Government has developed or proposes to develop a robust mechanism to prevent the re-emergence of such platforms through mirror websites;
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (e)  the  details  of  steps  being  taken  by  the  Government  to  ensure  better  coordination  between MeitY, the Ministry of Finance and other concerned authorities to curb illegal offshore gaming operations?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI JITIN PRASADA)

(a) to (e):   The policies of the Central Government are aimed at ensuring open, safe, trusted and accountable internet for its users. To address the harms caused by illegal/non-compliant gaming entities Central Government has taken following steps:

- The  Directorate  General  of  GST  Intelligence  Headquarters  is  empowered  as  appropriate government/agency under the Information Technology Act, 2000 ('IT Act') and the IGST Act to  direct  intermediaries  to  block  unregistered  online  money  gaming  platforms  including offshore online money gaming platforms violating the IGST Act.
- The suppliers of online money gaming are also being regulated under the Integrated Good and Services Tax Act, 2017 ('IGST Act').  They are required to obtain a single registration under the Simplified Registration Scheme referred to in the IGST Act.
- Online gaming attracts GST at the rate of 28%  from 1 st October, 2023.

From 2022 till  June  2025,  Government  has  issued  1,524  blocking  directions  related  to  online betting/gambling/gaming websites and mobile applications.

Under the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution, 'Betting and gambling' is a State subject (entry 34 of the List II).  Therefore, as per the provisions of article 246 read with article 162 of the Constitution,  State  Legislatures  have  the  power  to  legislate  on  matters  related  to  betting  and gambling.

Further, 'Police' and 'Public Order' are also State subjects as per the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India. The States/Union Territories are primarily responsible for the prevention, detection,  investigation  and  prosecution  of  crimes  including  for  action  on  illegal  betting  and gambling.

The Central Government supplements the efforts of the States/Union Territories through advisories and financial assistance under various schemes for capacity building of their LEAs.

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