India extends Polymarket block to X account
The restriction follows India’s nationwide ban on real-money prediction platforms and targets the service’s social media presence.
Key takeaways:
- India blocked access to Polymarket’s official X account on October 22, 2026, following a legal demand.
- The restriction comes nearly five months after Indian authorities blocked Polymarket’s main website.
- Authorities have warned VPN providers, intermediaries and crypto services against helping users bypass restrictions.
- The move follows online attention surrounding Polymarket markets on whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi would leave office by late 2026 or mid-2027.
India.- Social media platform X (formerly Twitter) has blocked access to the official account of Polymarket in India following a legal demand from local authorities. The restriction comes nearly five months after the Indian government blocked Polymarket’s website as part of a nationwide crackdown on real-money online betting and prediction platforms.
The action against Polymarket stems from India’s Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, which passed in late 2025 and took effect on May 1, 2026. This prohibits any online game where users deposit money or crypto to win cash prizes, regardless of whether the outcome depends on skill or chance. Indian regulators classify prediction markets like Polymarket as prohibited gambling under the law.
Authorities have also warned intermediaries, VPN providers, and crypto services not to help Indian citizens bypass these blocks or use digital assets like USDC to trade on overseas platforms.
In early October, Polymarket promoted several markets on X focused on Indian politics. These included bets on whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi would leave office by late 2026 or mid-2027. These markets gained traction online during a period of active political debate and public protests in the country regarding voter registration revisions.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
- Why has India blocked Polymarket’s X account? Indian authorities issued a legal demand that led X to restrict access to Polymarket’s official account in India. The specific legal order has not been made public.
- Is Polymarket banned in India? Yes. India blocked Polymarket’s main website in May 2026 under legislation prohibiting real-money online gaming and prediction platforms.
- What law does India use to prohibit Polymarket? The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, which took effect on May 1, 2026, prohibits online games involving deposits of money or cryptocurrency to win cash prizes.
