On February 5, 2022, the central government issued an “urgent” and “emergency” ban on almost 230 Chinese applications, comprising 138 betting and 94 loan-lending apps. This step comes as part of a new round of curbs on apps involving Chinese connections. The Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology started the activity in accordance with the suggestions made by the Union Home Ministry.
The government exercised its authority under section 69 of the Information Technology (IT) Act, 2000 to outlaw the apps. Governmental organizations can use this authority to intercept, monitor, and decipher any digital information under specific conditions. According to a source close to the ministry, these 94 lending apps and 138 betting or gambling apps were money launderers and posed a risk to the country’s financial security. The apps are run by foreign companies, including Chinese.
Why did the Government ban these loan and betting apps?
The decision was taken after it was determined that these applications come under the jurisdiction of Section 69 of the IT Act because they comprise some content detrimental to India’s sovereignty & integrity. The action is being taken as a result of several complaints alleging that users of the mobile applications used by the companies and those who obtained modest loans have been the targets of extortion and harassment.
As per sources, the creators of these applications include Chinese nationals who hired and promoted Indians to operational director positions. People forced to borrow loans due to their precarious financial condition learn that interest rates can increase by as much as 3000% yearly. The individuals advertising these applications put pressure on the customers when they cannot repay the interest.
Following a spate of suicides, particularly in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, by borrowers of such loans or those who had lost money in these betting apps, awareness of the problem was raised. These incidents have also been brought to light in other states.
How are these apps harmful to the people?
There is a chance that Chinese apps will abuse server-side security. It could be employed as a spying device and extract crucial information from consumers in India.
Since they might access our personal information and conduct extensive mass surveillance, these apps are viewed as threats. Around six months after beginning its investigation into several Chinese loan-giving apps, the Ministry of Home Affairs discovered 94 e-store applications run via third-party linkages.
The apps still downloadable?
Numerous applications are no longer available on mobile devices. However, independent links or websites, according to some sources, can still be utilized to download betting games and apps.
Use of these apps punishable by law
According to a warning from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB), it is also unlawful to promote these betting platforms as well as their substitutes in compliance with the provisions of the Consumer Protection Act of 2019, the Cable TV Network Regulation Act of 1995, as well as the Rules of 2021 because gambling and betting are outlawed in the majority of the nation’s jurisdictions.
The government claims that the 54 apps got significant powers and collected confidential user data. The information was being misused & moved to servers in an enemy country, the IT ministry claimed in a statement. These apps either share the same functionality or pose comparable security & privacy threats.
India continues its Spree to ban Chinese Apps
This is not the first scenario where the Indian Government has banned apps having Chinese origins. For example, on August 10, 2020, the authorities banned 47 linked apps after prohibiting 59 in June 2020. Later, 118 more apps were prohibited on September 1, 2020, and 43 more apps were limited on November 19, 2020.
Approximately half of the top 20 free apps released in India in the first half of 2020 were created by well-known Chinese tech firms. Including UC Browser & VMate from Alibaba Group Holding, which also happens to be the South China Morning Post owner, TikTok and Helo from ByteDance, PUBG from Tencent Holdings. Since the restriction, these apps aren’t shown on the download charts.
List of the Chinese (Including Betting and Loan) Apps Banned
The Complete List of the 138 China-Related Betting Apps Banned by the Government is provided below:
- Bet On Sports
- BetNetix: Football Betting
- Lucky slots -casino VIP
- SuperDraft Sportsbook – Prizes
- 1xBet: sports betting
- Betway – Live Sports Betting
- Sports Betting Game – BETUP
- 3patti Guide
- Lagai Khai Pro – Betting Game
- Sports Betting™ the Sportsbook
- WagerLab Bet on Sports & Props
- Live Bet Zlive
- BETUP – Sports Betting Game
- Lagai Khai Pro
- Scores And Odds Sports Betting
- BetQL – Sports Betting Data
- Parimatch: Live Sports Betting
- 22Bet: Live Sports Betting
- Cricket: Sports Betting
- BetWiser – Best Betting Odd
- Bet On Sports
- Football Betting Tips & Odds
- 20Bet
- Betting United: Betting Tips
- Onside Sports: Scores, Live Od
- Sports Betting Picks & Tip App
- Bet Analytix
- London Betting Tips
- VegasInsider Sports Betting
- BettingPros: Sports Betting
- Best Bet Casino™ Slot Games
- Win2Win
- TipsterMan – Betting Tips
- Papel Betting Tips
- SattaMatka Fix Game
- Virtual Sports Betting Predict
- Sports Betting for Real
- Play To Win: Win Real Money
- betM – Sports Betting Tool
- Betting Tips
- SI – Betting tips
- Betting Tips
- BetMines Betting Predictions
- Betstamp – Sports Betting Hub
- Casino Real Money: Win Cash
- Super Slot – Win Cash
- Golden Slots
- Enchanted Island
- myVEGAS Bingo – Bingo Games
- Pikkit: Sports Bet Tracker
- Bingo Crown – Fun Bingo Games
- Crash Rocket Gambling
- Spin for Cash!-Real Money Slot
- Block Online Gambling – Gamban
- Cashman Casino Las Vegas Slots
- PokerStars: Texas Holdem Games
- Big Winner – Lucky Wheel
- Teen Patti Dhamal
- Anubis Treasure
- Silver Luck
- Divine Fortune 2
- 3 Lucky Casino
- DoubleU Casino – Vegas Slots
- Happy 3Patti
- Avia Pilot
- Record Trade
- Teen Patti Romio
- Rich Club
- Lotus 365
- Ludo Vungo
- Games
- Satta King: Satta Matka Result
- Roulette Online
- CRICKET ΒΕΤЅ | All Cricket Βеt
- Teen Patti Lucky Gold
- Bet Winner-Popular online game
- Spin casino: Slot machines
- Live Baccarat
- Betfair Live Line
- BetVictor Bet
- Blackjack Live
- ladbrokes odds&tips
- Rummy
- Teen Patti Kash
- Zodiac Casino
- Teen Patti Bhoomi: Patti Poker
- Lucky Star Slots-Vegas Casino
- DAFABET – 2022
- Teen Patti Guide
- Megapari
- Bet O Bet-Live Sports Betting
- Vegas Royal
- betM – Sports Betting Tool
- MostBet
- Pure Win
- Videoslots Fun
- Grand Mondial Casino
- RABONA
- Casumo Casino
- Royal Panda
- Casumo Slots
- Casumo Online Games: Extended
- Zet Casino
- AndarBahar Poker
- Babu88
- 888STRAZ
- Trueflip
- Betindi
- Betobet
- Lottabet
- INDIBET
- MELBET
- Wheel of Fortune
- Betvisa
- Slots Machines – Vegas Casino
- Betkwiff
- Match Book App
- 4rabet App
- Tivit Bet App
- Bambet
- Come On
- Shangrila
- william Hill App
- Bons
- PariPesa App
- NEO.Bet App
- Fun88
- Grand Mondial
- Zodiac Casino
- Europa Casino
- Royal Vegas
- Genesis Casino
- Spin Casino
- OPPA 888
- Jackpot City Casino
- Live Blackjack
- Rummy
Conclusion
Incidents like these show how apps and other digital technologies can harm humankind. Hence it is always advised to use apps that are trusted & rated highly.
