New Delhi, August 2025 – The Government of India has officially passed the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025, triggering the biggest shake-up the country’s digital gaming sector has ever seen. The law, cleared by both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, now prohibits all forms of online real-money gaming, regardless of whether they are based on skill, chance, or a mix of both.
What the Bill Prohibits
According to the legislation, any online game that involves staking, betting, entry fees, or deposits for the chance to win money or equivalent rewards is now banned. The government made no distinction between games of chance and games of skill, meaning both categories fall under the prohibition.
The Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) stated that the ban is designed to curb youth addiction, financial losses, and fraud linked to online real-money platforms, while still encouraging e-sports and non-monetary digital gaming.
Games Now BanneIndia’s Online Gaming Ban: Full List of Games and Platforms Affectedd
The following categories of games are explicitly banned under the new law:
- Fantasy Sports Platforms
- Dream11
- My11Circle
- Gamezy
- Fan2Play
- Digital Rummy Platforms
- RummyCircle
- Junglee Rummy
- A23 Rummy
- Online Poker (E-Poker)
- PokerBaazi
- Adda52
- Spartan Poker
- Other Real-Money Games
- Ludo with stakes (Zupee cash version)
- Snakes & Ladders with stakes
- WinZO money contests
- Probo prediction markets
Platforms That Halted Operations
Several leading platforms have already suspended or shut down money-based operations:
- Dream11: Stopped all paid contests, calling the ban a “knockout blow” but confirmed it will not legally challenge the Act.
- MPL (Mobile Premier League): Paused fantasy and cash-based games across India.
- PokerBaazi & Spartan Poker: Ceased all money games.
- Zupee: Removed money-based Ludo and Snakes & Ladders but continues free-to-play casual versions.
- WinZO: Suspended real-money contests across genres.
- Flutter’s Junglee Games: A subsidiary of global gaming giant Flutter, shut down real-money operations in India entirely, leading to a loss of over $200 million in projected revenues.
What Remains Legal
- Free-to-Play Games: Versions of Ludo, Snakes & Ladders, chess, and other casual games that don’t involve entry fees or winnings remain allowed.
- E-Sports: Competitive gaming where players compete for skill recognition and sponsorship (without entry fees or cash betting).
- Educational & Social Games: Online games developed for learning, entertainment, or cultural promotion with no monetary exchange.
Industry Impact
The online real-money gaming industry, valued at ₹25,000 crore, has been forced to halt operations overnight. Startups and unicorns such as Dream Sports, MPL, and Games24x7 face massive revenue losses, while global investors are rethinking India as a growth market.
The BCCI has also begun looking for new sponsorship deals following Dream11’s exit as the official jersey sponsor of Team India.
Summary
The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025 has brought clarity to India’s digital ecosystem: real-money games are banned, but e-sports and free-to-play formats will now be nurtured. While the industry faces short-term disruption, the government insists this move is necessary to protect vulnerable users and build a responsible online gaming environment for the future.