Indian authority flags 6 gambling sites, asks Google to act
The Directorate General of GST Intelligence (DGCI), an apex intelligence organisation functioning under the Department of Revenue, and Ministry of Finance has issued a takedown notice to tech giant Google against six online gaming and gambling platforms for operating without registration in India and failing to pay Integrated Goods and Services Tax (IGST). The platforms have been accused of offering both games of skill and games of chance to Indian users without complying with local tax laws.
Six platforms named in notice
According to the notice dated 1 August 2025, the flagged platforms are MGM91.com, Shakunimama.com, Khelomama.com, 247majestic.com, Redgames1.com, and Karabet.in. A review of these websites shows that they offer various games, including online roulette, teen patti, and blackjack.
The DGCI investigation found that the platforms provide “online money gaming services” to Indian citizens through websites and mobile applications on both Android and iOS. They also accept payments via Unified Payments Interface (UPI), wallets, and net banking.
Legal provisions invoked
The notice was issued under Section 79(3)(b) of the Information Technology Act, read with Section 3(1)(d) of the IT Rules 2021, and Section 14A(3) of the Integrated Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017. The DGCI cited “security of the state” as one of the reasons for the action.
The agency stated that since these platforms have not registered in India or paid the required IGST under Section 14(a)(1) of the IGST Act, they are liable to be blocked for public access. The notice instructed that access to these websites must be disabled within 36 hours.
Tax liability on full stake amount
The action comes days after the central government told the Supreme Court on 5 August that in online gaming, the entire stake amount or the “full face value of bet” should be considered for taxation. This applies regardless of whether the game is of skill or chance.
The “full face value” refers to the total amount a player wagers online, whether in money, chips, or tokens. In October 2023, the government clarified that a 28 percent Goods and Services Tax (GST) is applicable on the full face value of bets. This replaced the earlier model where GST was applied only on the gross gaming revenue.
Websites still accessible
Despite the takedown order, SiGMA News was able to access the listed websites as of 11 August. The online gaming industry in India has been under increased regulatory and enforcement scrutiny, particularly after the 2023 GST amendments. Offshore operators that target Indian players without complying with tax and registration requirements have been a focus area for the authorities.
The DGCI has been actively identifying such platforms, coordinating with intermediaries such as search engines and app stores, and initiating actions to block access to non-compliant services.
Over 357 betting and gaming sites banned
In March, Indian tax authorities blocked 357 websites of illegal offshore online gaming firms and attached about 2,400 bank accounts. The finance ministry, in a statement on 22 March, revealed that nearly 700 offshore gaming companies are under investigation by the DGGI for evading GST by failing to register, concealing taxable pay-ins, and bypassing tax obligations.
The DGGI has been monitoring offshore gaming platforms that allow Indian players to participate in online betting, gambling, and other money gaming activities. The authorities have found that these companies avoid compliance by frequently changing domain names and using intermediary bank accounts to process transactions.
