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India is on the brink of outlawing real money online gaming after both houses of parliament cleared the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025. The upper house approved it on Thursday, just one day after the lower house gave its nod. The only step left is the president’s signature for it to become law.
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The legislation seeks to prohibit “the offering, operation, facilitation, advertisement, promotion and participation” in real-money online gaming. That includes popular categories like fantasy cricket and online poker, where players deposit funds in hopes of winnings.
Promoting or advertising these games can now lead to penalties of up to two years in jail and fines of 50 lakh rupees (around $57,000). Repeat offenders face even harsher consequences, including up to five years’ imprisonment and fines reaching 2 crore rupees.
A central online gaming authority will be established under the bill. Its role will be to register and categorize games, decide what qualifies as a money game, and handle public grievances. It will also issue guidelines, codes of practice, and directions to ensure compliance.
According to a government statement, the measure is designed to “curb addiction, financial ruin and social distress caused by predatory gaming platforms that thrive on misleading promises of quick wealth.” Officials described it as a move to safeguard families while ensuring the digital economy grows in a safe, constructive way.
Not everyone welcomed the law. Opposition MPs protested loudly as the bill was passed clause by clause in the upper house. Industry figures also voiced frustration. Vidushpat Singhania, managing partner at Krida Legal, said the bill “has come as a shock to an industry that has sought central regulation through a dedicated authority.”
Reuters reported that some gaming firms are considering challenging the ban in the Supreme Court, arguing the bill lacked consultation and unfairly includes games of skill like poker.
The ruling has already triggered immediate changes. Mobile Premier League (MPL), valued at $2.3 billion, announced it was suspending all money-based games in India. Its website now displays a message stating that deposits are no longer available.
Dream11, the country’s largest fantasy sports operator with an $8 billion valuation according to PitchBook, is also under pressure as the law directly targets its core business.