Apps and APKs: The Risks for Users in India

Casino and betting apps reach phones in India mostly as APK files shared through messaging groups, social media and advertisements, not through official app stores. This page explains why that matters and what to do about it. We do not link to any casino app or file.

Why APKs are a problem

An APK installed from outside an official store bypasses the store's checks. A file shared in a chat can contain anything, including software that reads messages, captures one-time passwords or watches what you type. Fake casino and betting apps are a well-known way to empty bank and payment accounts, because they combine a reason to enter payment details with a reason to grant broad permissions.

Warning signs

• An app offered through a chat link, a short link or a pop-up advertisement.
• Instructions to allow installation from unknown sources.
• Requests for permissions such as reading SMS, accessing contacts or drawing over other apps.
• An app name or icon slightly different from a known brand.
• Promises of bonuses or guaranteed returns on installation.

Blocking under the 2025 Act

Under the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act 2025, online money games are prohibited in India, and MeitY can order access to them to be blocked. Apps and sites that keep changing their addresses or ask users to download new versions to get around blocks are, by design, operating outside the law. That also means there is no domestic regulator to help when something goes wrong.

If you have already installed one

Uninstall it. Check the list of apps with special permissions, such as accessibility access or device administration, and revoke anything you do not recognise. Change the passwords of your email, banking and payment apps from a different device if possible, and turn on two-factor authentication. If money has been taken, contact your bank immediately and report the fraud to your state's cyber cell.

Free games are different

The Act permits e-sports and social or educational games without stakes. A free game from an official store is a different thing from a casino APK passed around in a chat, although it is still worth checking what permissions any app requests.

Families and shared phones

Many households in India share devices. If children or teenagers use a phone that also holds payment apps, set a screen lock on payments, review installed apps from time to time and talk about why a "free bonus" link is likely a trap.

Related pages

For fake sites and mirror links, see our mirror warning page. For help with gambling, see the help page; for disputes and fraud, the complaints page.

Frequently asked questions