The Indian government has given orders to block 22 arbitrary illegal betting apps and websites. Such apps include:
However, the MeitY has not yet disclosed full details about all the blocked operators. However, MeitY has confirmed that both Mahadev Book and Reddyannaprestopro have been ordered to be blocked.
According to MeitY, the action comes post the enforcement directorate investigation into an illegal betting syndicate. The ED also conducted several raids at the "Mahadev Book" in Chhattisgarh, exposing illegal activities.
The investigation arrested several persons, including Bhim Singh Yadav, a Chhattisgarh police officer, who was arrested under Section 19 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
According to Rajeev Chandrasekhar, India's Minister of State for Skill Development, Entrepreneurship, Electronics, and Information Technology, the local government of Chhattisgarh should have recommended the closure of the websites and apps. Since they did not do so, MeitY stepped into the picture.
These are powers given to the Chhattisgarh government to recommend closure of websites and apps under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act," pointed out Chandrasekhar. "But they did not go ahead and the state government did not put forth such a request while for an investigation over the matter for the past 18 months."
"Well, this was the only request made by the ED, and based on that, action was mounted. Nothing prevented the Chhattisgarh government from sending in a similar request."
The order to block these sites comes just over a month after India introduced a new tax rate on online gambling.
As of October 1, licensed operators will pay a flat 28% turnover tax on online gambling, casinos, and horse racing betting. The tax was announced in July this year by India's Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council.
The tax is imposed on the total face value of bets, as opposed to the gross gaming revenue (GGR), which makes it a turnover tax.
In regard to online gambling, the tax pertains to all wagers made by operators. Concerning physical casinos, taxes are paid on the lip value of chips purchased at each venue. More or less the same way, betting shops and tote operations are taxed on the total value of bets placed.
The departure of Betway Super Group following this new tax rate left the Indian market in response to it.
The new tax rate marks the second major change in India’s online gambling market.
In January, the Indian government also set out new regulations on online gaming. The regulations stipulate that any online game so offered is supposed to speak to the existing laws.
Alternative propositions were made, such as establishing self-regulatory bodies of online gaming businesses to put rules into practice. The prime objectives of those proposals included player protection from harm, addiction mitigation, crime prevention of money laundering, and child safeguarding among others.
The term "online gaming" refers to any game involving an Internet interface whereby a player deposits money with a return-inclusion expectancy. If needed, such games could be declared as regulated under these norms by the Indian Government.
Instead of creating government regulators, the amendments propose the establishment of self-regulatory bodies composed of companies involved in online gaming, which would set rules related to online gambling.
Such bodies may include "independent public figures from online gaming, sports, entertainment, or related fields," in addition to "individuals representing players of online games" who are psychologists or educators in consumer education.
These agencies will create rules under which children will be protected and financial crimes will be prevented in a bid to "protect users from harm", such as addiction.
Last year, MP Sushil Kumar Modi appealed to the government for a comprehensive regulatory framework for online games, expressing his concern over the growing popularity of online games in the country.
In the month of June, India placed a ban on advertisements for betting by foreign operators. According to the media advisory issued by the Government, print and electronic media should ""refrain"" from placing ads for online betting platforms.
For those searching for why these are the best casinos to play in India, they follow all state rules and offer a safe haven for all players.