Pakistan’s National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) has declared 46 mobile applications illegal, targeting platforms linked to online gambling, unregulated forex trading, and data privacy violations.
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The NCCIA said the banned apps were operating in violation of national laws, facilitating casino-style games, betting, and unlicensed financial trading. Officials warned that these platforms posed serious risks to users’ financial security and personal data.
Among the gambling apps now banned are 1xBet, Chicken Road, Aviator Games, Dafabet, 22Bet, Casumo, Rabona, 10Cric, Plinko, and Bet365, several of which enjoy widespread use across the region.
The list also includes unregulated forex and binary trading platforms, which investigators said could be exploited for scams and illegal money transfers due to a lack of oversight. In addition, the agency flagged apps accessing citizens’ SIM and mobile number information, raising concerns over privacy breaches and identity theft.
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The NCCIA has asked the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to immediately block access to the apps and urged citizens to avoid unverified platforms that could compromise their data and finances.
