India’s online race betting experiment is over almost as soon as it began amid a flurry of anti-online efforts by individual states. 

On Friday, the Indian state of Karnataka rescinded the online betting permit it issued earlier this year to the Bangalore Turf Club (BTC) as a means of rescuing a racing season that had been laid low by COVID-19. The government advised the BTC that the permit was “hereby withdrawn with immediate effect.” 

The BTC received in-principle approval for online betting this summer as the pandemic prevented the track from admitting any customers, leaving it with no way to conduct wagering operations. As a result, the BTC was forced to cancel its summer season entirely. 

The BTC’s winter season kicked off last month before the company’s betting app, digital wallet and streaming service were ready for prime time but digital wagering finally commenced on November 21.