Opinion trading applications SportsBaazi, Probo, and TradeX are facing increasing legal scrutiny in India, with regulators and courts questioning their operational model and advertising practices, suspecting them to be a form of “digital satta” (online betting) disguised as skill-based platforms.
The legal pressure intensified after the Chhattisgarh government informed its High Court that it has already issued formal directives to block these three platforms, categorizing them as online gambling under the Chhattisgarh Gambling Prohibition Act, 2022.
Now, a new Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed in the Punjab and Haryana High Court is demanding an immediate halt to the operations, advertising, and promotional activities of SportsBaazi, Probo, and TradeX. The petition highlights the alleged use of surrogate marketing, celebrity endorsements, and manipulative digital campaigns targeting the youth by these companies. It argues that their advertisements deliberately blur the lines between legal trading and illegal gambling, using sophisticated terminology to appear as legitimate investment tools.
This legal challenge follows a public advisory issued by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), cautioning investors against engaging with opinion trading platforms. SEBI stated that these platforms simulate investment environments but fundamentally operate on yes/no betting models, a form of gambling outside existing investor protection mechanisms and not recognized as legal financial markets.
The PIL in the Punjab and Haryana High Court argues that the state’s inaction against such promotional tactics violates constitutional rights by allowing unlawful trade leading to financial exploitation. The petition has been tagged with another case seeking action against the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) and several celebrities for allegedly promoting illegal online gambling platforms.
Notably, the Haryana government’s recent Prevention of Public Gambling Bill, 2025, has also cast doubts on the legality of opinion trading platforms. These platforms are also currently under scrutiny in the Gujarat High Court. Earlier, the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) had urged the Indian government to ban opinion trading apps, referring to them as “Digital Satta.”
Globally, opinion trading apps are often classified and regulated as wagering platforms. In India, however, a specific legal framework is still lacking.
Key Highlights:
- Opinion trading apps SportsBaazi, Probo, and TradeX face increasing legal heat in India, suspected of being disguised “digital satta.”
- Chhattisgarh has already ordered their blocking, and a new PIL in Punjab & Haryana High Court demands a complete halt to their operations and advertising.
- SEBI has issued a warning against these platforms, stating they operate as betting systems outside its regulatory purview.
- Haryana’s new gambling bill also raises concerns about their legality, and they are under scrutiny in multiple High Courts.