<h1>PIL seeks ban on online gambling platforms, blocking under IT Act Section 69A, tax recovery and criminal probes</h1> The court sought the central government's assistance on a public interest litigation by a think tank seeking directions to prohibit online gambling and betting platforms allegedly operating as social and e-sports games, and asked the petitioner to serve the government; the matter was listed after two weeks. The PIL seeks orders to bar monetary transactions via banking and UPI systems, tax recovery and criminal investigation of offshore operators, harmonised application of the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025 with state laws, blocking under IT Act Section 69A, protection of minors' data, and relief against app-store operators facilitating such platforms.