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India Government Set to Block Kalshi After Earlier Move Against Polymarket

India Government Set to Block Kalshi After Earlier Move Against Polymarket

India’s action against Polymarket and expected move on Kalshi point to tighter oversight of prediction markets, with potential implications for crypto-linked platforms and cross-border compliance strategies.

Fact Check
The claim is strongly supported by multiple independent sources. ThePrint — the outlet specifically named in the claim — published a report on May 21, 2026 confirming MeitY's imminent blocking order against Kalshi, following an earlier action against Polymarket. CoinDesk (May 22, 2026) independently corroborates that Polymarket has already gone dark via a MeitY ISP directive and that a Kalshi order is next. PANewsLab further echoes the ThePrint reporting, including the 'as early as Friday' timing detail. The only minor uncertainty is that the Kalshi order had not yet been formally issued as of the reporting date (it was described as imminent/expected), meaning the claim is forward-looking as of May 22, 2026. All sources are consistent with no conflicting evidence found.
Summary

India has blocked Polymarket after authorities stepped up enforcement against platforms they classify as illegal online money gaming services. According to an April 25 advisory from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, internet service providers were directed to restrict access, confirming that earlier action against Polymarket has moved into active enforcement. The broader crackdown also includes preparations to target Kalshi. The new report adds that India’s actions could influence global regulatory approaches to prediction markets, including crypto-linked platforms and international compliance strategies, but does not provide additional operational details beyond the existing enforcement move.

Terms & Concepts
  • Prediction market: A platform where users trade contracts based on future event outcomes, with prices reflecting collective expectations about those events.
  • Polymarket: A blockchain-based prediction market where users speculate on real-world outcomes using crypto-linked market contracts.
  • Kalshi: An event-contract trading platform offering markets tied to political, economic, and other real-world outcomes.