New survey data is challenging the core premise of India's online gaming ban. Rather than reducing gambling activity, the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act (PROGA) appears to have driven millions of Indian players toward unregulated offshore casino platforms — precisely the outcome the law was meant to prevent.

The Survey Numbers

A survey cited by the Economic Times found striking shifts in player behaviour following PROGA's implementation. Before the ban, only 3.4% of users spent more than two hours per day on offshore gambling platforms. After PROGA came into force, that figure surged to 44% — a more than twelve-fold increase. Players also reported spending more time and more money on these offshore sites compared to the regulated domestic platforms they previously used.

Why Offshore Sites Are Winning

The offshore platforms filling the gap left by PROGA operate without the responsible gambling safeguards that licensed Indian platforms were required to provide. They typically offer larger bonuses with fewer restrictions, simpler deposit and withdrawal processes, and no age verification requirements that meet Indian standards.

Jaya Chahar, founder of JCDC Sports, summarised the problem clearly: the ban "pushes fan engagement away from regulated Indian platforms into unregulated offshore spaces, which defeats the very intent of consumer protection."

Which Offshore Casino Sites Accept Indian Players?

Despite PROGA, numerous international casino platforms continue to accept players from India. These platforms are licensed in jurisdictions such as Curaçao, Malta, and Gibraltar, and they accept Indian rupees via UPI, Paytm, cryptocurrency, and international bank transfers.

Popular options among Indian players include 1win, MegaPari, and Rolletto — all of which offer Hindi-language interfaces, INR banking, and bonuses tailored to Indian players including free spins and no-deposit welcome offers.

The Regulatory Dilemma

The survey findings present a difficult situation for Indian policymakers. A ban intended to protect players from harm appears to be accelerating their migration to platforms with fewer protections and less accountability. Industry experts and legal advocates have cited this data in ongoing Supreme Court proceedings as evidence that PROGA is not achieving its stated objectives.