The Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) in India has directed virtual private network (VPN) providers to prevent access to banned online betting and prediction market platforms, particularly naming Polymarket. This advisory, issued earlier this week, highlights that despite the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025 (PROGA) banning such platforms, users are still able to access them through VPNs, undermining the effectiveness of the ban. The ministry emphasized that VPN service providers must take reasonable steps to block access to these unlawful platforms. The advisory warns that users are not only accessing these sites but are also engaging in financial transactions by converting Indian rupees into virtual assets like USD Coin, facilitating participation in these illegal activities. The ministry reiterated that allowing access to these platforms could lead to violations of both the PROGA and sections of the Information Technology Act. Notably, prediction markets like Polymarket have seen significant interest in India, with bets on various topics, including state elections and cricket matches, amounting to millions of dollars.