US-based prediction market operator Kalshi has blocked users in India after authorities intensified enforcement against online prediction market platforms, marking another setback for the rapidly growing sector in one of the world’s largest digital markets.
The company has added India to its list of restricted jurisdictions, preventing local users from accessing and trading on its platform. The move comes weeks after India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology warned that prediction market websites were operating illegally and began efforts to restrict access to such services.
Indian regulators have increasingly targeted prediction market operators, arguing that these platforms resemble online betting services. Authorities previously took action against several sites, including Kalshi and rival platform Polymarket, as part of a broader campaign to curb unlicensed online wagering activities.
Before the restrictions, Indian users were able to create accounts and trade on prediction markets covering sports, politics and other real-world events. However, government officials warned that participation in such platforms could expose users to illegal and blocked services.
Kalshi has not publicly commented on the decision. The company has faced growing regulatory scrutiny in several jurisdictions worldwide as authorities continue to debate whether prediction markets should be treated as financial products or gambling services. Recent regulatory actions against prediction market operators have also emerged in countries including Spain, where authorities launched investigations into licensing compliance.
India’s latest enforcement measures highlight the increasingly challenging environment for international prediction market providers seeking to operate in heavily regulated jurisdictions. As governments tighten oversight of online gaming and betting-related products, platforms such as Kalshi are being forced to reassess where they can legally offer their services.