1xBet ban in India: legal status, regional restrictions, and latest regulatory updates in 2026


The true answer: is 1xBet banned in India in 2026?
Reasons behind the 1xBet ban in India
- Absence of Indian license. 1xBet is licensed by the Curaçao Gaming Control Board, and this certification is not approved by the government. The platform doesn’t have Indian authorization, which makes it illegal in the country; operating a real-money gaming service violates the Online Gaming Act 2025
- Full ban on real-money games indicated in Online Gaming Act. In 2026, the Act came into force, prohibiting all types of gambling- and betting-related activities. Offshore platforms fall under this definition regardless of where they are currently based
- Financial violations. MeitY identified illegal financial transactions on the platform, which resulted in blocking all domains. ED investigated issues related to UPI payments and marked these transactions as AML law violations
- Enforcement Directorate bans. In March 2026, the ED attached assets worth ₹18.10 crore linked to 1xBet operations in India. The claim of violating the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) is another reason for the platform’s ban in the country
- Advertisement restrictions. The ED investigations extended to illegal promotions of the offshore platform in India. The authority questioned celebrities and cricketers who were supposed to engage in advertising 1xBet services in prohibited markets
1xBet ban across states: status before and after the Online Gaming Act enforcement
| State | Before the 2025 Act | After the 2025 Act |
| Andhra Pradesh | Banned under the AP Gaming Act | Real-money gaming activities banned by nationwide law |
| Telangana | Banned under the Telangana Gaming Act | Real-money gaming activities banned by nationwide law |
| Assam | Banned under the Amusement and Betting Tax Act | Real-money gaming activities banned by nationwide law |
| Tamil Nadu | Banned under the Online Gaming Act 2021 | Real-money gaming activities banned by nationwide law |
| Odisha | Restricted under the Orissa Prevention of Gambling Act | Real-money gaming activities banned by nationwide law |
| Goa, Sikkim, Nagaland | Specific forms of gambling allowed if operating under local licensing | Real-money gaming activities banned by nationwide law |
| Maharashtra, Delhi, UP, Karnataka | No specific online gambling regulations | Real-money gaming activities banned by nationwide law |
1xBet app banned in India: why the mobile version is prohibited
1xBet India ban: timeline, key events, and latest updates
| Date | Event | Autority |
| August 2025 | Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act passed and signed | Parliament, President |
| Early 2025 | FIR against 1xBet for illegal ICC Champions Trophy events streaming | Bengaluru Cyber Police |
| January 2026 | 7,800+ illegal gambling and betting sites blocked under Section 69A of IT Act | MeitY |
| March 2026 | Assets worth ₹18.10 crore attached to entities linked to 1xBet | Enforcement Directorate |
Is the 1xBet India ban permanent?
FAQ
Like many other offshore platforms, 1xBet is banned in India under the Online Gaming Act. This document restricts all real-money games in the jurisdiction, and the platform operates without authorization from local regulatory bodies. In January 2026, MeitY blocked 1xBet and all related domains, while the ED took enforcement actions against the operator for illegal streaming. While the site may occasionally be accessible to Indian users, this doesn’t change its legal status.
Before 2025, gambling regulations were segmented in India. Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, and Telangana had restrictive frameworks that prohibited real-money games. Other states had no specific legal basis, meaning that 1xBet could target users and appeared in the grey area. The Online Gaming Act established a nationwide framework, making 1xBet illegal nationwide.
The Indian government bans 1xBet and all its domains, as real-money games conducted by offshore companies are prohibited under the Online Gaming Act 2025. MeitY cited illegal financial transactions and accused the company of violating AML laws. In addition, an FIR was filed against 1xBet for illegal streaming services, after which the operator was penalized and blocked.
MeitY blocks all offshore platforms consistently, and the ban is enforced through Internet providers. It’s impossible to restrict all sites immediately, so some domains may remain accessible to Indian users. However, it doesn’t change 1xBet's legal status in India. All platforms are restricted under the Online Gaming Act 2025, and users shouldn’t count on consumer protection if they still engage with offshore operators and disputes arise.
The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act establishes a permanent framework for regulating gambling and betting activities nationwide. Although discussions about legalizing the industry and making it taxable were held across states, none of the suggestions were approved. The ban on offshore platforms will remain valid in the future, and MeitY reported continuous blocks of illegal service providers.