UPI) transfers, to deter offshore platforms illegally offering gambling and betting in India after finding several new ones have mushroomed.
The government found as many as 114 illegal betting and gambling platforms operating in India through domain farming, people aware of the details told ET. The measures may include tax collection at source (TCS) on UPI payments, actively tracking and blocking unregistered online gaming firms and a stricter verification process, people aware of the details told ET.
These platforms are collecting UPI payments through proxy bank accounts and a TCS would leave a money trail that can be investigated. The amount accumulated in proxy accounts is being remitted through hawala, crypto and other illegal routes, they said.
In a presentation to the revenue department last week, domestic online gaming companies flagged several offshore betting and gambling platforms, detailing how they were illegally operating in India.
Modus Operandi
Registration is mandatory for offshore gaming companies from October 1.
In July, the ministry of electronics and information technology (MeitY) ordered the blocking of 138 offshore betting sites that were engaged in gambling, on the recommendation of the Directorate General of GST Intelligence (DGGI).
Some prominent platforms operating illegally are Parimatch, Fairplay, 1XBET, Lotus365, Dafabet, and