Lok Sabha Informed About Centre Cracking Down on Offshore Gaming

Nellore:The Centre has intensified action against offshore gaming platforms while expanding rural digital connectivity, union Electronics and IT minister of state Jitin Prasada informed the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.

Replying to questions from MPs Vemireddy Prabhakar Reddy, Magunta Sreenivasulu Reddy, Putta Mahesh Kumar, and G.M. Harish Balayogi, Jitin Prasada said India has so far blocked 8,376 betting and gaming-related URLs, including the offshore ones.

The Union minister said the government has strengthened regulations under the IT Act, 2000, and IT Rules, 2021, mandating due diligence by intermediaries. The new law prohibits online money gaming and restricts related financial transactions and advertisements, while enforcing 28 per cent GST.

Jitin Prasada underlined that the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, imposes penalties on illegal betting and cyber offences. In this regard, he said awareness programmes are being carried out through cyber hygiene programmes, Cyber Jaagrookta Diwas and the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal.

Replying to a separate question, union Communications minister of state Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar said rural connectivity in Andhra Pradesh has expanded. As of December 2025, AP has 24.12 million rural telecom subscribers with broadband density at 54.39 per cent. Of 17,328 villages, 16,944 have mobile coverage and 12,817 have fibre-to-the-home connectivity.

Pemmasani said ₹2,404 crore have been disbursed over the past five years under Digital Bharat Nidhi to strengthen connectivity, including in Nellore district. Across the country, 23,994 mobile towers have been installed and over 2.14 lakh gram panchayats made service-ready under BharatNet.

The Union minister said progress in this regard is being monitored through parameters, such as tele-density, broadband penetration and mobile coverage.