Polymarket’s official account on X has been withheld in India following a legal demand, further restricting access to the prediction market platform in the country. This action comes approximately five months after the Indian government initiated moves to block the platform’s website under new online gaming regulations.
What Happened
Polymarket’s official account on X has been made inaccessible in India in response to a legal demand, according to Livemint. The profile and its content remain available outside India, as noted in the withholding notice. This development extends the existing restrictions on Polymarket, which began approximately five months prior when the Centre moved to restrict website access under India’s online gaming regulations, Livemint reported.
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) notified new rules on April 22, 2026, which became effective on May 1. These regulations prohibit online money games that involve stakes or deposits placed with the expectation of monetary returns, regardless of whether the outcome relies on skill or chance, according to Livemint. On April 25, MeitY issued an advisory listing Polymarket among platforms blocked under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act. Internet service providers subsequently implemented DNS-level restrictions on polymarket.com around May 21-22, according to reports.
Key Details
- Polymarket is described as the world’s largest prediction market platform, where users trade shares on the outcomes of real-world events, including elections, sports, economics, and pop culture, Livemint stated.
- The Centre intensified its enforcement against online money games in August 2025, shortly after the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act received presidential assent, as reported by Livemint.
- Authorities raised concerns regarding users attempting to bypass restrictions via virtual private networks (VPNs) and converting rupees into virtual digital assets, such as USDC, to engage with overseas platforms, according to Livemint.
Why It Matters
The withholding of Polymarket’s X account diminishes Indian users’ access to the platform’s official announcements and market updates through social media. This action broadens the practical impact of earlier website restrictions beyond direct service access, according to Livemint. Polymarket has historically seen substantial trading activity related to Indian political and sporting events, including state elections and cricket.
The broader enforcement initiative has also impacted other operators. Kalshi has included India on its list of restricted jurisdictions, and domestic opinion-trading platforms have largely ceased offering real-money products under the new regulatory framework, Livemint reported. Polymarket had not added India to its own list of geographically restricted jurisdictions, leaving enforcement largely dependent on domestic restrictions and intermediaries.
What’s Next
The precise scope and legal grounds of the latest order that led to the X account restriction remain unclear, according to Livemint.
Originally reported by LivemintPublished
Sources & References
Primary source
- Livemintlivemint.com
Additional references
- Why IT ministry has warned VPN providers against allowing access to Polymarket | Explained News – The Indian Expressindianexpress.com
- India cracks down on prediction markets: Polymarket goes dark, Kalshi could be nextcoindesk.com
- Prediction markets: Indian govt moves to formally block Polymarket, Kalshitheprint.in
- MeitY warns VPNs, intermediaries over access to banned betting sites | India Newshindustantimes.com