As part of another app ban, the Indian government has banned or restricted over 200 betting and loan apps, which are considered to have ‘Chinese links’ to protect user privacy and security. Here are the details to find out. In an order published on 5th February, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) of India passed the law and ordered the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) to ban more than 232 apps associated with or linked to China. It includes 138 betting apps and 94 online lending apps.
Indian Government Bans New Set of Apps
The Twitter account of Prasar Bharti News Services and Digital Platform said that the action was taken on an ‘urgent and emergency basis’ as directed by the Home Ministry’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). This happened under Section 69 of the IT Act, which seeks to safeguard the country’s integrity and privacy.
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A report by ANI indicates that the move is based on many objections filed by users who have been victimized by the people behind various mobile transaction apps for non-payment of loans. The apps are said to attract people to take loans but charge colossal interest, often failing to repay. It has also prompted people to commit suicide, following which the MHA even conducted an inquiry into 28 loan apps six months ago. It was found that 94 loan apps are working via third-party links.
The decision was taken to ban betting and loan apps in India just after the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released some new guidelines for digital lending companies. These policies limit lending companies from extending users’ credit limits without their permission and instruct lending apps to obtain permission before obtaining any data, among other things.
Many people in debt have committed suicide when the people working for the apps were emotionally harassed. The matter came to light after several cases of suicides by borrowers of these apps were seen in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
On the other hand, Chinese apps can abuse server-side security by operating them as spying tools because they have access to the sensitive data of many Indians. Access to such information can be used for large-scale espionage, which is why all such apps are considered a threat to the country.
Around six months ago, the MHA started investigating 28 loan apps or Chinese lending apps. It has been revealed that 94 such apps are available in e-stores and are managed through third-party links. But there is no word on the names of the banned apps. Neither the MeitY nor the Home Ministry has commented on the matter.
For those who don’t know, this is not the first time India has banned apps associated with China. In June 2020, the government started banning apps such as TikTok.It eventually banned over 100 apps like WeChat, PUBG Mobile and more, with the list continuing to grow over the same year. Even last year, more than 50 apps like Beauty Camera, Garena Free Fire, Viva Video Editor, App Lock and more were banned.
India Crackdown on China-Linked Apps
Shortly after, the Indian government ordered search giant Google to stop displaying advertisements by foreign online betting companies. The app ban saga began in 2020 after the Center banned the first 59 apps in June of that year. Big names were affected by the melee, including the small video platform TikTok, file sharing app ShareIt and UC Browser, among other popular apps. Among them, a series of bans were imposed, affecting as many as 320 Chinese apps. Counting the present 232 apps, the total number now stands at 552.
Here’s The Full List Of China-Linked Betting Apps That The Government has banned:
- Sports Betting Game – BETUP
- 3patti Guide
- Lagai Khai Pro – Betting Game
- Sports Betting™ the Sportsbook
- WagerLab Bet on Sports & Props
- Live Bet Zlive
- BetNetix: Football Betting
- Bet On Sports
- SuperDraft Sportsbook – Prizes
- Lucky slots -casino VIP
- Betway – Live Sports Betting
- 1xBet: sports betting
- Parimatch: Live Sports Betting
- 22Bet: Live Sports Betting
- Cricket: Sports Betting
- BetWiser – Best Betting Odd
- Bet On Sports
- 20Bet
- Lagai Khai Pro
- BETUP – Sports Betting Game
- BetQL – Sports Betting Data
- Scores And Odds Sports Betting
- VegasInsider Sports Betting
- BettingPros: Sports Betting
- Best Bet Casino™ Slot Games
- Win2Win
- TipsterMan – Betting Tips
- Papel Betting Tips
- Betting United: Betting Tips
- Football Betting Tips & Odds
- Sports Betting Picks & Tip App
- Onside Sports: Scores, Live Od
- London Betting Tips
- Bet Analytix
- betM – Sports Betting Tool
- Betting Tips
- SI – Betting tips
- Betting Tips
- BetMines Betting Predictions
- Betstamp – Sports Betting Hub
- Virtual Sports Betting Predict
- SattaMatka Fix Game
- Play To Win: Win Real Money
- Sports Betting for Real
- Pikkit: Sports Bet Tracker
- myVEGAS Bingo – Bingo Games
- Bingo Crown – Fun Bingo Games
- Bingo Crown – Fun Bingo Games
- Spin for Cash!-Real Money Slot
- Crash Rocket Gambling
- Casino Real Money: Win Cash
- Super Slot – Win Cash
- Golden Slots
- Enchanted Island
- Big Winner – Lucky Wheel
- Silver Luck
- Anubis Treasure
- 3 Lucky Casino
- Divine Fortune 2
- Happy 3Patti
- DoubleU Casino™ – Vegas Slots
- Block Online Gambling – Gamban
- Cashman Casino Las Vegas Slots
- PokerStars: Texas Holdem Games
- Teen Patti Dhamal
- Lotus 365
- Satta King: Satta Matka Result
- Games
- CRICKET ΒΕΤЅ | All Cricket Βеt
- Roulette Online
- Bet Winner-Popular online game
- Teen Patti Lucky Gold
- Avia Pilot
- Record Trade
- Teen Patti Romio
- Rich Club
- Ludo Vungo
- Teen Patti Kash
- Lucky Star Slots-Vegas Casino
- Teen Patti Bhoomi: Patti Poker
- Teen Patti Guide
- DAFABET – 2022
- Bet O Bet-Live Sports Betting
- Megapari
- Spin casino: Slot machines
- Live Baccarat
- Betfair Live Line
- BetVictor Bet
- Blackjack Live
- ladbrokes odds&tips
- Rummy
- Zodiac Casino
- Grand Mondial Casino
- Videoslots Fun
- RABONA
- Royal Panda
- Casumo Casino
- Casumo Online Games: Extended
- Casumo Slots
- Vegas Royal
- betM – Sports Betting Tool
- MostBet
- Pure Win
- Zet Casino
- INDIBET
- Lottabet
- Wheel of Fortune
- MELBET
- Slots Machines – Vegas Casino
- Betvisa
- AndarBahar Poker
- Babu88
- 888STRAZ
- Trueflip
- Betindi
- Betobet
- Betkwiff
- Bambet
- Shangrila
- Come On
- Bons
- william Hill App
- NEO.Bet App
- PariPesa App
- Match Book App
- 4rabet App
- Tivit Bet App
- Fun88
- Royal Vegas
- Europa Casino
- Spin Casino
- Genesis Casino
- Jackpot City Casino
- OPPA 888
- Grand Mondial
- Zodiac Casino
- Rummy
- Live Blackjack (Blackjack 21: Live Casino game)
Final thoughts:
The Central Bank of India has tightened digital transaction regulations while it has found some apps bear rules and harassment. India is also catching up with Chinese companies in other areas. It is considering restricting Chinese smartphone makers from selling devices for less than 12,000 rupees ($150) to kickstart its declining domestic industry, hitting brands including Xiaomi Corp.
