The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has directed the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology(Meity) to take urgent action against 114 illegal offshore betting websites. Among links of illegal gambling websites submitted by SAG are several domains linked to Mahadev Betting App syndicate & their affiliates.

Section 3 of the Commission for Protection of Child Rights (CPCR) Act, 2005, aims to safeguard child rights across the nation, overseeing key legislation including the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, and Right to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act.

The Commission’s directive comes in response to a complaint from the ‘Society against Gambling,‘ drawing attention to the alarming trend of minors engaging in online gambling activities. The complaint underlines the proliferation of illegal gambling platforms luring children through various channels, including dedicated applications and communication platforms like Telegram. These platforms not only lack proper registration in India but also sidestep Know Your Customer (KYC) requirements, heightening the risks associated with underage gambling.

Highlighting the severity of the issue, the NCPCR stresses the urgent need for stringent measures to address the regulatory loopholes enabling minors’ participation in online gambling. Emphasizing the importance of KYC procedures for all applications and websites, the Commission calls upon Meity to take decisive action to safeguard minors’ well-being and curb the proliferation of unlawful betting platforms.

The NCPCR has requested Meity to provide a detailed report within 10 days, outlining the steps taken to tackle the issue effectively.