India bans real-money online gaming as act becomes law

Major Indian and foreign online gaming companies suspended real money offerings this week after Parliament approved the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025 and the law received presidential assent on August 22, effectively banning money‑based online games across India. Operators including Mobile Premier League, Dream Sports, Zupee, Probo, Gameskraft and international firm Flutter said they had halted paid play or were winding down India operations, citing the new legal framework that criminalises offering, facilitating or advertising such games.

The law bars any internet based game, whether of skill, chance or both, if participation requires a fee, stake or deposit with an expectation of monetary reward. Violations can attract up to three years in prison or fines of up to Rs 1 crore. Advertising is separately punishable with up to two years imprisonment or fines up to Rs 50 lakh, while banks and payment processors are barred from enabling transactions for these services. The act also creates a Central Authority to classify games and authorises designated officers to conduct searches, arrests and site blocking under the Information Technology Act.