Polymarket blocked in India after website and X account restrictions

Regulatory actions targeting Polymarket

Polymarket’s official X account has been withheld in India in response to a legal demand, according to Mint. The account remains accessible outside the country, but Indian users can no longer view its updates or posts.

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) had already restricted access to Polymarket’s website in May 2026 under the country’s online gaming regulations. These rules prohibit online money games involving stakes or deposits for monetary returns, regardless of whether the outcome relies on skill or chance.

Legal basis and enforcement

MeitY notified the new rules on April 22, 2026, which took effect on May 1. On April 25, the ministry issued an advisory listing Polymarket among platforms blocked under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act. Internet service providers implemented DNS-level restrictions on the platform’s website around May 21-22.

Authorities have raised concerns about users attempting to bypass these restrictions using virtual private networks (VPNs) and converting rupees into virtual digital assets like USDC to participate in overseas platforms. Polymarket has not added India to its own list of restricted jurisdictions, relying instead on domestic enforcement.

Broader impact on prediction markets

The restrictions on Polymarket reflect a broader regulatory approach targeting prediction markets and platforms facilitating monetary stakes. Kalshi, another prediction market platform, has already listed India among its restricted jurisdictions.

Polymarket had previously seen significant trading activity around Indian events, including state elections and cricket. The latest move limits access to its official announcements and market updates for Indian users, reinforcing the practical impact of the earlier website restrictions.

Earlier reporting on prediction market challenges

This development follows earlier Lazyfounder coverage on the regulatory and perceptual challenges faced by prediction markets. In a story titled Prediction markets struggle to escape the gambling label, we reported how platforms like Polymarket and Kalshi grapple with liquidity, market manipulation, and the gambling label, despite their growth as crowd-sourced intelligence tools.

What this means

Lazyfounder analysis — our interpretation, not reported fact.

The blocking of Polymarket’s X account and website signals India’s hardening stance on prediction markets and platforms facilitating monetary stakes. For founders and operators in fintech or online gaming, this underscores the risks of regulatory ambiguity—especially for platforms enabling cross-border transactions using virtual assets. The reliance on domestic enforcement, rather than self-imposed restrictions by platforms, also highlights the importance of compliance at the intermediary level, such as ISPs and social media platforms.

Related on Lazyfounder

• Polymarket
• X
• Kalshi
• Prediction markets struggle to escape the gambling label