India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) issued an advisory in April 2026 directing VPN service providers and other intermediaries to stop enabling access to illegal online betting and prediction market platforms, specifically naming Polymarket among those in violation.
The advisory stated that some users were bypassing government-imposed restrictions by using VPN services to reach blocked websites and converting Indian rupees into virtual digital assets — including USD Coin (USDC) and other stablecoins — to participate in prohibited platforms despite domestic bans.
MeitY said it had observed certain VPN providers facilitating access to websites blocked under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000, raising concerns over unlawful online betting, financial risks, regulatory violations, and threats to public order and economic integrity.
“MeitY hereby reiterates, with heightened emphasis, that all VPN service providers and other intermediaries must make reasonable efforts to not host or store or permit the access to any such platforms making available unlawful information, including ‘Polymarket’ and such other similar violative platforms operating in violation of law,” the advisory read.
The ministry pointed to the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025, which expressly prohibits online real-money gaming activities in all forms, and noted that any platform directly or indirectly facilitating access to such services — including through circumvention tools — would be in violation of both that act and the IT Act.
MeitY warned that intermediaries failing to meet their due diligence obligations under the IT Act and the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, could lose liability protections granted under Section 79 of the IT Act. Non-compliant providers could then face legal action under the IT Act, the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and other applicable online gaming laws.
The ministry also reminded VPN providers of their obligation to assist government agencies with lawful investigations, cybersecurity matters, and verification requests within stipulated timelines.
Source: mint – technology