Real-Money Betting Companies Sound Alarm Over Increase in Offshore Betting Apps.

India’s real-money gaming sector has sounded the alarm over the increasing number of offshore betting applications targeting Indian clients. The illegal platforms, which operate outside local regulatory controls, are a major threat to consumers as well as the country’s domestic gaming industry.

Increase in Illegal Betting Apps

Well-known offshore betting sites like Dafabet, Betway, Bet365, Parimatch, and 1xbet have seen increased Indian user activity. The apps bypass Indian regulations, which has raised questions regarding fair play, safe transactions, and losses in revenue for legitimate gaming businesses.

Government Crackdown on Illegal Operators

This led the Indian government to increase the crackdown on unlawful betting operations. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has recently identified a ₹10,000 crore money-laundering gang operating through proxy e-commerce platforms and illegal remittance channels located outside the country. More than two dozen gambling websites, including OctaFX, Fairplay, and Mahadev Online Book, were banned for cleaning black money using forex trading and online gaming covers.

Regulatory Gaps and Industry Concerns

Experts say that the lack of a well-defined regulatory framework has enabled these offshore platforms to flourish. In a recent report, the Think Change Forum identified delays in establishing self-regulatory organizations (SROs) as having left regulators scrambling to stem the power of illegal gaming sites.

Consumer Risks and the Way Forward

Consumers of these sites are exposed to dangers like fraud, data theft, and no legal recourse. Industry players are demanding tough regulations to protect consumers and establish an equitable playing field for local gaming companies.

With the debate heating up, the government is being pressured to enact tougher policies to fight offshore bookmaking while guaranteeing the long-term success of India’s online gaming sector.