India Set to Block US Prediction Market Kalshi Amid Online Gaming Crackdown

The Government of India is preparing to formally block Kalshi, a US-based prediction market platform. This move follows regulatory restrictions that were expected to make Kalshi inaccessible in India weeks ago. Prediction market platforms such as Kalshi allow users to bet on a range of outcomes, including sports, elections, and international events.

Key Highlights

• India plans to block US-based prediction market Kalshi after recent regulatory restrictions.
• Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology to issue blocking order under Section 69A.
• Platforms like Kalshi and Polymarket saw $27.7 million in IPL match trading.
• Online Gaming Act 2025 bans money games previously considered skill-based.
• VPN providers warned of legal action for enabling access to blocked platforms.

Government Action Against Prediction Markets

According to a report by The Print, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) plans to issue a blocking order to Kalshi as early as Friday. The ministry has already sent a similar order to Polymarket, another prediction market platform. These platforms enable users to place bets on whether specific events will occur. For example, Polymarket has hosted bets on topics like a potential US-Iran peace deal and the possibility of an OpenAI IPO. Users can also bet on cricket matches, including the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Bloomberg reported that these platforms attracted significant betting activity during IPL matches. One match between Lucknow Super Giants and Royal Challengers Bengaluru on May 7 saw trading of approximately $27.7 million (about Rs 266 crore) across Kalshi and Polymarket. However, it remains unclear how much of this activity originated from India.

Other platforms in the prediction and opinion trading sector include Bitclout, Hedgehog, and PlotX. The government’s crackdown intensified after the passage of The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025 (PROGA) in August 2025. Under PROGA, games previously considered skill-based, such as RummyCircle's rummy, Adda52's poker, and Dream11's fantasy cricket, are now classified as banned online money games. Several Indian operators have exited the market since the law took effect.

Legal Measures and Enforcement

The government has stated that online gambling platforms raise concerns about addiction, financial losses, money laundering, and suicides. On April 25, 2026, MeitY sent a letter to VPN service providers. The letter warned that users were accessing illegal and blocked prediction market and online betting platforms despite domestic prohibitions. The advisory specifically named Polymarket and similar platforms, which internet service providers were supposed to block. VPN providers were warned of potential legal consequences if they enabled access to these platforms. The advisory appeared on the ministry’s website.

Reports indicate that the government is likely to use Section 69A of the Information Technology Act to issue the blocking order. Section 69A allows the central government to restrict access to websites, apps, and social media profiles. This provision was previously used to ban TikTok in India. Non-compliance with Section 69A can result in imprisonment for up to seven years and a fine.

Current Platform Accessibility

At the time of writing, both Polymarket and Kalshi remained accessible to users in India. Kalshi’s legal counsel, Valeria Vouterakou, told Bloomberg that the company would comply with government requests if made. Polymarket, which does not list India among its restricted countries, stated it is committed to following applicable laws and updates its geoblocking measures as required. Some Indian internet providers have started blocking access to Polymarket’s website. Meanwhile, users on the platform’s Discord server have shared methods to bypass these blocks by changing DNS settings.