India has restricted access to Polymarket’s official account on X following a legal demand, extending restrictions on the prediction-market platform beyond its website.
The account displayed a notice to users in India on October 22, 2026, stating that it had been withheld in response to a legal demand. The profile and its posts remained accessible outside the country. However, the specific legal grounds and scope of the latest order have not been disclosed.
The move follows an earlier government action against Polymarket’s website under India’s online gaming regulations. On April 25, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) named the platform among services blocked under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act. Internet service providers subsequently introduced restrictions on access to polymarket.com around May 21-22.
India’s regulatory crackdown intensified following the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025, which received presidential assent in August 2025. The implementing rules were notified on April 22, 2026, and took effect on May 1.
The framework prohibits online money games involving stakes or deposits made with the expectation of monetary returns, regardless of whether outcomes depend on skill or chance.
Authorities have also raised concerns about users bypassing restrictions through virtual private networks (VPNs) and using virtual digital assets, including USDC, to participate in overseas platforms.
Polymarket allows users to trade contracts linked to the outcomes of future events, including elections, politics and sporting competitions. Its markets have attracted activity around Indian political developments and cricket.
The restrictions form part of a wider enforcement effort affecting prediction markets and real-money gaming platforms. Kalshi has also listed India among its restricted jurisdictions, while several domestic opinion-trading platforms have withdrawn real-money offerings.
For Indian users, the latest restriction limits access to Polymarket’s official announcements and updates on X. The development also highlights how enforcement can extend from a platform’s core service to its social media presence.
Source: NDTV
