The UK-based anti-gambling application Gamban has approached the Delhi High Court challenging actions taken by India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), in a case that could have wider implications for digital regulation, app distribution and online gambling policy in India.
Gamban, a self-exclusion and anti-gambling software platform that allows users to block access to online gambling websites and apps, has filed a petition against MeitY after its application became inaccessible through major app distribution channels in India. The company argues that the government’s actions have effectively prevented Indian users from accessing a tool designed to help individuals avoid gambling-related harm, a report in Exchange4media said.
A significant aspect of Gamban’s legal challenge focuses not on MeitY’s authority to block digital platforms, but on the process followed by the government. The company is reportedly questioning whether adequate procedural safeguards, transparency requirements and opportunities for representation were provided before the app was restricted.
According to court filings and legal reports, Gamban is not directly contesting the government’s broader powers under India’s information technology framework to regulate online content and digital services. Instead, the petition centres on whether the blocking action complied with statutory procedures, including notification requirements and the principles of natural justice, the report said.
The company maintains that its service is fundamentally different from gambling operators because it is designed to restrict, rather than facilitate, access to gambling platforms. Gamban argues that classifying or treating the app in the same manner as gambling-related services undermines consumer protection objectives.
The dispute comes amid increasing scrutiny of online gambling and real-money gaming platforms in India. Over the past two years, authorities have intensified enforcement efforts against offshore betting operators, unlicensed gambling websites and digital platforms suspected of facilitating wagering activities.
MeitY has exercised blocking powers under the Information Technology Act to restrict access to numerous betting and gambling-related services, often acting on recommendations from enforcement agencies and state governments. The regulatory environment has become particularly sensitive following concerns over consumer protection, financial fraud, money laundering and addiction.
