Gambling ads found on Goa govt site for women and children, minister calls it 'cyberattack'
Casino gambling advertisements appeared on the official website of the Department of Women and Child Development in Goa, a coastal state in western India, on Wednesday. The ads were visible under the section meant for welfare schemes targeted at women and children. Some of the promotions encouraged users to try online slot machine games and recommended using Mastercard credit cards for making payments.
One such advertisement that appeared on the government site read: “Are you a fan of ports? Do you like the excitement of rotating the reels, expecting a big win? If so, you remain in luck! In this post, we will certainly check out the globe of totally free online slots, specifically those that call for no download. Whether you’re a skilled player or new to the globe of ports, this overview will offer all the info you need to start. Playing totally free ports online has actually come to be progressively popular in the last few years. With developments in innovation, players now have access to a wide range of video games right at their fingertips. And the very best component is, you do not require to download any kind of software or apps to enjoy these video games.”
Cybersecurity lapses affect government sites
This incident shows there are still big cybersecurity problems with Goa government websites. Recent reports found that over 70% of these sites, including ones like Goa University’s, are labelled as “not secure.”
The state IT department reported that, among 62 government websites, 45 had failed to renew their Security Audit certificates, while another 17 had only partially completed the renewal process. Previous reports have also shown that scammers have been able to place similar online gambling ads on government portals before.
Government response and investigation
Following the incident, Women and Child Development Minister Vishwajit Rane said the casino advertisement appeared due to a cyberattack on the department’s website, which replaced official content with gambling ads. He confirmed that 62 government websites were affected by the breach.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), the minister wrote, “I am upset by the recent cyberattack on the Department of Women & Child Development’s website, where a casino advertisement appeared in place of essential content meant to support women and children in Goa. This incident, which stemmed from a breach in the host server of an empanelled government website, is unacceptable and undermines the integrity of public digital services.”
I am upset by the recent cyberattack on the Department of Women & Child Development’s website, where a casino advertisement appeared in place of essential content meant to support women and children in Goa. This incident, which stemmed from a breach in the host server of an…
— Vishwajit Rane (@visrane)
He added, “It is important to note that 62 government websites were affected by this breach, yet only the Women & Child Development site has been selectively highlighted. This not only distorts the full picture but also detracts from the larger issue of cybersecurity across platforms.”
The minister assured the public that the Women & Child Development website has a valid Web Security Audit Certificate. He said, “I assure the people of Goa that the Women & Child Development website holds a valid Web Security Audit Certificate. We are taking this matter up with the concerned authorities till then the website has been disabled. Also lodging an FIR against this. I will ensure that strict accountability is maintained. Our team is actively working to strengthen our systems and prevent such incidents in the future.”
This incident shows there are still big cybersecurity problems with Goa government websites. Recent reports found that over 70% of these sites, including ones like Goa University’s, are labelled as “not secure.”
Earlier last year, the state’s IT department reported that, among 62 government websites, 45 had failed to renew their Security Audit certificates, while another 17 had only partially completed the renewal process. Previous reports have also shown that scammers have been able to place similar online gambling ads on government portals before.
Gambling in India
India is considering introducing a central law to regulate online gaming, gambling, betting, and lotteries. Currently, online gaming is regulated by the under the , framed under the Information Technology Act, 2000. These rules impose obligations on intermediaries, including online gaming platforms. If they fail to observe due diligence, they lose their exemption from liability for third-party content.
The idea of a new central law is being considered to ensure that all, including celebrities, who endorse such online activities are to be brought under a legal framework. Since betting and lotteries are primarily luck-based and require no skill, the Indian government is considering stricter regulations.
